North Devon health trust 'short of 100 nurses'

NHS managers in north Devon have revealed they are about 100 nurses short of their full complement of 1,218.

It comes after Devon and Cornwall health trusts revealed they had about 800 vacancies in January.

Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust is holding a recruitment drive to boost numbers.

The trust blamed the "ongoing" national shortage of nurses and competition for staff from other trusts.

Dr Alison Diamond, chief executive, said: "We have a variety of posts available in the acute hospital at NDDH, the trust's 17 community hospitals and our nine health and social care teams who support people in their own homes.

"There are some great opportunities for experienced nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists seeking a new challenge, as well as nurses looking to return to practice and students due to qualify from university in March or September."

The trust is holding open days at North Devon District Hospital (NDDH), Barnstaple, on Monday and at Tiverton and District Hospital on Monday 23 March.