An international recruitment drive has led to 40 new nurses joining our Trust.
The nurses, who are either already working in or due to arrive at our Community Hospitals, are all experienced, having previously worked in hospitals in locations including India, the Philippines, the Cayman Islands and Malta.
One of the nurses, Haila Mary Forbes, who is based in Lydney, said: “We have had a very warm welcome since arriving in the UK. The Forest of Dean is a beautiful place and we have really enjoyed getting to know the local area and the people. We are excited to begin working in the hospital and using our skills to support the local community.”
Cheryl Haswell, Matron for Lydney and Dilke Hospitals, said: “There is a well-recognised shortage of nurses in the UK and with the challenges we have experienced in the past 18 months through Covid, we are greatly in need of some further expertise and support. The nurses we have recruited from overseas will be a huge boost to us in our community hospitals and we are really glad they have chosen to come here to support our local people.”
Director of Nursing, John Trevains, said: “There is a long tradition of nurses joining the NHS from overseas and it’s important to point out that this scheme, which is supported by NHS England, ensures that recruitment is ethical and that nurses are not being recruited from countries where they have their own shortage of qualified staff. The nurses are all trained and experienced nurses in their home countries and when they join us they are supported with accommodation for their first 12 weeks and given a full induction programme. If they pass their objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), which the scheme also pays for, they are then able to obtain their PIN via the Nursing and Midwifery Council and are given support in finding their own accommodation, as well as ongoing pastoral support.”
