100 extra nurses still needed at Walsall Manor Hospital a year after search began

As reported by the Express & Star in February last year, the trust needed to recruit 100 nurses to stop an over-reliance on agency staff.

But a new report released this month has revealed the trust, which is still in special measures after being rated inadequate by the Care Quality Commission last year, still needs to recruit 100 nurses and that the solution to the shortage will be 'temporary staff'.

Rachel Overfield, the director of nursing at the trust, said in a report prepared before a meeting this month: "The trust continues to carry a large number of registered nurse vacancies circa 100 and gaps in some medical posts.

"Plans are in place to mitigate the risks, mainly with regard to temporary staffing solutions. Longer term plans are in place i.e. new roles and service remodelling."

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust was contacted to expand further on Ms Overfield's comments but did not respond before the Express & Star went to print.

The trust announced in August last year that more than 70 nurses from the Philippines were to join its ranks after a recruitment drive. With 100 nurses still needed, the most likely scenario is that the trust is recruiting nurses but struggling to hold onto them.

Walsall Council's former health chief, councillor Rose Martin, said: "This is a concern but I am sure the manor will be trying everything possible to recruit nurses. It is not only vitally important for the care of patients but also to reduce the cost of agency staff. It is far better for the manor to have full time nurses employed rather than rely on agency staff so I am sure they are doing their best. Agency staff are very expensive."

The reliance on agency staff has been highlighted by the trust in the same board papers. It is failing to meet its financial targets and struggling to reduce its multi-million pound deficit largely because of the 'continued overspend on agency staff'.

Last year the trust spent £10.9 million on agency staff. It says it has 'made progress' in reducing this spend but that more needs to be done.

Councillor Ian Robertson, Walsall Council's current health chief, said: "It is absolutely vital that agency spend is brought down. The spend is crippling the hospital. They are getting themselves stuck in a cycle where they cannot get the staff so they rely on agencies and then because of the high cost they cannot get their deficit down.

"I am of course very concerned by this nurse shortage and I hope the trust can convince the staff to come and then commit to Walsall where we need them."