HEALTH chiefs at Bolton's crisis-hit hospital are solving a staffing crisis by employing 14 new nurses -- from the Philippines.
The nurses are due to arrive at the Royal Bolton Hospital towards the end of October.
Hospital chiefs said the foreign nurses were recruited earlier this year and their employment was not a direct response to this week's shock announcement that the hospital has only achieved a "one-star" Government rating -- the worst of any hospital in the North-west.
A hospital spokesman said: "We have selected them from a pool of nurses who are all qualified. They have been tested in verbal and written English, and interviewed individually on our behalf by NHS professionals."
The new recruits, on two-year contracts, will receive three months of further training.
Bolton is following in the footsteps of Rochdale and Oldham, who have already recruited from the Philippines to increase their workforce.
Most of the new nurses will work in the medical sector or care of the elderly, where vacancies are greatest.
Meetings are under way with Royal Bolton Hospital staff who are expected to smooth the way for their foreign counterparts.
Other new recruits, mainly junior doctors and nurses, will also swell the hospital's numbers in October.
Busy
Sue Reed, director of nursing, said: "This is a very busy hospital and we certainly need more nurses.
"We hope everyone will give a warm welcome in Bolton to these nurses from the Philippines.
"If international recruitment is successful we will look to employ further nurses from abroad next year.
"This is just part of the Trust's recruitment and retention drive. Considerable effort will continue to be spent on recruiting locally and in valuing and investing in our own staff." HEALTH chiefs at Bolton's crisis-hit hospital are solving a staffing crisis by employing 14 new nurses -- from the Philippines.
The nurses are due to arrive at the Royal Bolton Hospital towards the end of October.
Hospital chiefs said the foreign nurses were recruited earlier this year and their employment was not a direct response to this week's shock announcement that the hospital has only achieved a "one-star" Government rating -- the worst of any hospital in the North-west.
A hospital spokesman said: "We have selected them from a pool of nurses who are all qualified. They have been tested in verbal and written English, and interviewed individually on our behalf by NHS professionals."
The new recruits, on two-year contracts, will receive three months of further training.
Bolton is following in the footsteps of Rochdale and Oldham, who have already recruited from the Philippines to increase their workforce.
Most of the new nurses will work in the medical sector or care of the elderly, where vacancies are greatest.
Meetings are under way with Royal Bolton Hospital staff who are expected to smooth the way for their foreign counterparts.
Other new recruits, mainly junior doctors and nurses, will also swell the hospital's numbers in October.
Busy
Sue Reed, director of nursing, said: "This is a very busy hospital and we certainly need more nurses.
"We hope everyone will give a warm welcome in Bolton to these nurses from the Philippines.
"If international recruitment is successful we will look to employ further nurses from abroad next year.
"This is just part of the Trust's recruitment and retention drive. Considerable effort will continue to be spent on recruiting locally and in valuing and investing in our own staff." Comment: P10
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