Dudley's Russells Hall Hospital launches recruitment campaign for 55 nurses

Bosses at the Dudley hospital have launched a recruitment campaign in a bid to attract dozens of 'home-grown' nursing staff.

The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, is holding a recruitment open day on Saturday, July 11.

The event, which will fill a total of 55 positions, follows a £3.1milion investment made last year which aims to boost the hospital's front line staff.

The day itself will see the Trust recruit in specific areas at the hospital including its emergency assessment unit, emergency department, short stay medical ward, surgery, trauma and orthopaedic and elderly care and community.

Visitors to the open day will have the chance to spend time with the nursing teams and to visit the departments where successful candidates could be working.

A similar recruitment drive was held in November last year at the hospital which attracted more than 40 nursing staff to take on new permanent positions.

Hospital bosses have previously taken their recruitment drive overseas to help fill vacancies with more than 50 nurses recruited from countries including Spain, Portugal and Romania.

Another main reason for the drive is to help plug the national nursing shortage.

The issue has been clouded in debate over the past few days with outgoing chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, RCN, Dr Peter Carter warning the NHS faces bankruptcy as nurses are 'ground down' by working conditions and poor pay.

Chief Nurse at Russells Hall Hospital, Dawn Wardell, said: "We need more amazing and talented nurses to join our committed staff to help us build on the success we've had, and so we are opening our doors to tempt home-grown talent to come and join us.

"We are one of the top performing Trusts in the country for consistently exceeding the four-hour target, placing us in the top ten nationally.

"To be a nurse at The Dudley Group is to be part of something special.

"Our patients rate us with 4.5 out of 5 stars on NHS Choices and our staff survey results are in the top 20 nationally."

Pam Smith, deputy chief nurse, said "We've had fantastic interest shown already on the recruitment day with more than 2,000 hits on the NHS Jobs page and more interest shown on our Facebook page.

"Nationally there is a shortage of nursing staff so this will help us fill any gaps and continue to strive for success. We feel there are plenty of talented nurses in the UK and we want to maximise their potential here."

With much success and a new specific dementia unit soon to be opened, Hospital Matron Rachel Tomkins – who has worked for the Trust for 17 years – said this was one of the best times to be working at the hospital.

"I've worked here for 17 years and I've loved every moment of it.

"But throughout my time here I've not known a more exciting time for people to join us. There are so many exciting things going on around here and the place is buzzing. I would encourage anybody who is wanting a career in nursing to come along, there is a great vibe around here at the moment which I'm sure they will sense when they arrive."

Kieron Povey, 22, from Brierley Hill, who has been a staff nurse at the hospital since February, recommended anyone to join the hospital.

"The support shown to nurses here is fantastic and that support sold me the job here.

"I did my training at the University of Wolverhampton so to come here and get great support as a new nurse was something. The staff here are great and always keep an eye out on what you're doing."

Fellow staff nurse Irene Ochumba, 42, added: "The staff here are so friendly and supportive.

"Working here has been one of the best decisions I have made."

Anyone wishing to attend the recruitment day should register their interest on NHS Jobs by searching for Nurse Recruitment Day July 2015 or reference number 253-A-15-11982, then click Apply. For more information call Carol Love-Mecrow on 01384 456111.