New figures from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) have revealed that more nurses and midwives are leaving the profession in the UK than joining it for the first time on record, with the number departing having risen by 51% in just four years.
Earlier this year the Health Service Journal reported that 96% of hospitals in the UK have nursing shortages.
In Northamptonshire, a new joined up recruitment campaign entitled the Best of Both Worlds from four healthcare providers in partnership with the University of Northampton is addressing this problem.
The campaign unites the University of Northampton, Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Northampton General Hospital, Kettering General Hospital and St Andrew’s Healthcare, a leading charity providing specialist mental healthcare, in a joint bid to solve their recruitment needs.
The campaign highlights the diverse career opportunities offered by the providers, and the excellent quality of life people can achieve by relocating to the county, with its excellent schools, affordable housing, easy commuting and great transport links. The career opportunities are endless for medical professionals at all stages.
Student nurses can study at the University of Northampton, one of the UK’s leading universities for nursing training. They can choose to work at one of several hospitals or NHS community sites across the county.
We all offer a range of opportunities and each have our own unique elements.
At Northampton General Hospital, staff here work as one team, everyone believes they can make a difference. It is an inspirational workplace. A key focus for us is the education, training and development of nurses and doctors and the career opportunities are outstanding.
We provide acute care services for 380,000 people and we’re an accredited cancer centre, with a recently opened new chemotherapy suite and wonderful clinical and non-clinical training facilities for doctors and nurses.
We are leading the way in nursing excellence and training. Led by Carolyn Fox, our Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Patient Services and Board Director, we were the first UK hospital to sign up to the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center scheme, ‘Pathway to Excellence ®’. This programme seeks to raise nursing standards and boost nursing recognition. In the USA, they really celebrate the work of their nurses and we are emulating that here.
This initiative is a key part of our strategy of recognizing the fantastic work of all our nurses – from the millennials to the wise owls nearing retirement age and making sure there are career opportunities and support for all. We are one of the first UK hospital to introduce the DAISY award, which celebrates the skillful compassionate care that nurses and midwives provide.
Other hospitals in the county offer different opportunities. Kettering General Hospital is a district general hospital based in the heart of Kettering and known for its friendly, community atmosphere. It also has a brilliant cardiology service which operates 24/7 and its respiratory department has won national awards.
St Andrews Healthcare needs to recruit 130 nurses annually which includes mental health nurses, learning disability nurses and RGNs. It is an award-winning, highly specialised, mental health charity, providing care for people with complex needs and its college for young patients is rated as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.
At Northamptonshire NHS Foundation Trust, with its diverse workforce delivering over130 services at over 50 sites, there are many interesting vacancies at all levels, including community nursing, mental health and disabilities services.
We are proud to be part of this campaign and showcase the variety of opportunities in Northamptonshire for medical professionals. No matter what field people work in or what type of medical site they prefer, there are vacancies across the country for people to develop, train and achieve their career ambitions.
To find out more, a ‘Best of Both World’s microsite is available, hosting career advertisements and information for doctors and nurses. Interviews and stories from doctors and nurses who have relocated and are enjoying living and working in Northamptonshire are also featured.
For more information on the campaign visit the Best of Both Worlds
- Keeping nurses interested - 12th July 2017
