Overseas nurses recruited to help ease staff issue
HYWEL Dda University Health Board has recruited 45 international nurses and plans to increase this number significantly over the coming months.
International nurses have been part of the NHS since it was launched in 1948 and they continue to play a vital role.
Hywel Dda is aiming to recruit 100 international nurses this year through the centrally delivered programme with NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership, local health boards and the Welsh Government.
The new nurses are part of a wider project to enhance and expand the health board’s nursing workforce to help deliver the best possible care to patients.
The first cohort of 11 nurses arrived in May and are based at Carmarthen’s Glangwili and Llanelli’s Prince Philip hospitals The second cohort of 19 nurses arrived in June and are based at
Carmarthen, Llanelli and Aberystwyth hospitals.
The third cohort of nurses arrived last month and are currently training in preparation for their exams.
These 15 nurses are spread across Glangwili, Prince Philip, Withybush and Bronglais hospitals.
Judith Avan from Nigeria, who works at Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth, said: “Living in Wales has been lovely, people are so welcoming, and the weather has been so lovely.
“I look forward to developing in my career and specialise in respiratory therapy.”
Nabitha Kabeer from India, who works in Glangwili Hospital, said: “I’m excited about working with NHS Wales. I look forward to enjoying the beauty of Wales and developing in my career, I want to specialise in infection control or operating theatre nursing or forensic nursing.”
Oyebola Opemipo Tikolo from Nigeria, works in Glangwili Hospital and said: “It has been a nice experience on and off the ward, the people are friendly and helpful.
“I am looking forward to developing in my career by taking more courses, I also look forward to bringing my family over and settling down here.
“I intend to specialise in midwifery as I have experience in midwifery from my country.”
Hywel Dda’s director of workforce Lisa Gostling said: “We continuously work together to be the best we can be as we strive to develop and deliver excellent services, putting people at the heart of everything we do.
“We want to attract a diverse workforce and are delighted to welcome the newly recruited nurses to the Hywel Dda family.”