New Cross Hospital recruits nurses from Greece

A hospital criticised for putting patient safety at risk by under-staffing wards has begun recruiting nurses from Greece.

An inspection at New Cross Hospital, in Wolverhampton, last year revealed a shortage of nurses on surgical and dementia wards.

Since 2009-10, more than 3,000 annual nurse training places have been lost across the UK.

About a quarter of all NHS trusts are now looking abroad for staff, figures show.

Zena Young from the Royal Wolverhampton Hospital NHS Trust said the 170 nurses they are recruiting will be of the right calibre.