New ‘local international’ NHS staff welcomed to South Tyneside

The recruits are joining South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust as it strengthens its workforce.

The majority of the ‘local international’ newcomers are already living in the area and have applied to join the Trust after studying at the University of Sunderland.

Many are from African countries and others are from Sri Lanka and Philippines.

All have worked as nurses in their home countries and bring a vast amount of experience in areas including intensive care, emergency departments, surgery and medicine.

Each of the new recruits will undertake a bespoke education programme and must pass a series of tests before they can register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Further international nurses will join in the months ahead, while 11 diagnostic radiographers and one midwife have also been taken on from abroad this year.

Diane Palmer, the Trust’s Deputy Director of Nursing, Patient Safety and Quality, was part of the leadership team to welcome the new nurses at a series of induction events.

She said: “We are looking forward to enhancing our nursing workforce by attracting people into a range of roles through our ongoing international recruitment campaign in the months ahead.

“We are delighted to welcome these recruits who have arrived with a wealth of previous experience from overseas and are all enthusiastic and looking forward to becoming established in their new teams at the Trust. Nursing is a rewarding career for anyone looking to make a difference to people’s lives. As well as providing outstanding care to patients, our nurses play a vital role in shaping health care for the future.

“All of these newcomers bring experience of working in specialisms in their home country and that will help us boost the skills of our own teams. We also continue to recruit here in the UK across a wide range of roles, not just clinical, and it is worth having a look at what we offer if you’re looking for a new job or a way to develop your career.”