NURSES at Glan Clwyd Hospital have reacted to staff shortages by arranging their own recruitment day.

The nursing professionals are busy finalising plans for the open day on Saturday, November 12, which begins at 10am and finishes at 3pm.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) currently has a staffing problem; the health board has been too reliant on locum and agency staff, in common with most health boards in Wales, because of staff vacancies.

It is hoped the day will attract those interested in applying for qualified nursing roles as well as the Apprenctice Healthcare Assistant programme.

The scheme lasts for two years and apprenctices gain NVQ qualifications plus, hopefully, a full-time job on completion.

Jane Woollard, Glan Clwyd Hospital’s director of nursing, said: “We want people aged between 18 and 25, who have an interest in healthcare, to come along and see what a rewarding career this can be.

“Nursing is a tough job, though really rewarding, and the support given by our healthcare assistants is vital. We need more and we can offer on the job training and career advancement to those who want to make it their vocation.

“We’ve seen healthcare support workers make that transition into Band 5 nursing and it fills us with pride to see their progression.

“We also want to see registered nurses on our open day. It doesn’t matter whether you are newly qualified or experienced – it’s about compassionate care for the people of North Wales.

“We need you to work either in our acute sites or out in the community and our links with colleges and universities afford plenty of opportunity for development – even up to PhD level if that is your aim.”

For more information about the opportunities on offer email Rhian Jones, lead recruitment nurse for Glan Clwyd Hospital, at Rhian.Jones9@wales.nhs.uk or Jane Woollard, IHC associate director of nursing, at Jane.Woollard@wales.nhs.uk