A major recruitment drive in India has resulted in the hiring of 107 nurses for Morriston Hospital, one of the largest hospitals in Wales. This initiative marks the first in-person overseas recruitment event by the health board since the pandemic.
A team led by Lynne Jones, Head of Nursing Education and Recruitment, traveled to Kochi, where they conducted interviews over four days, selecting a mix of medical, surgical, and theatre nurses. Some of the recruits bring up to 15 years of experience, helping to address the shortage of Band 5 nurses in the region.
The new recruits will under go a four-week OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) training programme at the Swansea Bay University Health Board Headquarters and will prepare them for the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registration exam. Upon passing, they will commence their duties in April.
Lynne Jones emphasised the importance of face-to-face recruitment, stating: “During the pandemic, we conducted interviews via Teams, but meeting candidates in person allows for a better understanding of their skills and experience. We have successfully recruited nurses with experience ranging from one to 15 years.”
The health board currently employs around 32 international nurses every five weeks to fill staffing gaps. The India recruitment drive is a significant step in bolstering numbers.
The decision to focus on India was based on the country’s strong pool of skilled nurses. “Many Indian nurses seek long-term career opportunities, which we can provide,” said Lynne. “We also ensure ethical recruitment by selecting candidates from regions with a surplus of trained professionals.”
The success of this recruitment drive aligns with a broader initiative by the Welsh government, which recently signed an agreement with Kerala to recruit 250 nurses and doctors to help address staffing shortages across NHS Wales. Despite this effort, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has expressed concerns that these numbers may not be sufficient to close the overall gap, with nearly 3,000 registered nursing vacancies in Wales.
Helen Whyley, Director of RCN Wales, welcomed the arrival of overseas nurses but stressed the need for better retention policies. “Pay is a huge issue. When you can work in a local supermarket for only a couple of pounds an hour less than you’re getting paid to do a safety-critical role like nursing, it’s no wonder we’re losing staff,” she said.
Welsh Health Minister Eluned Morgan, speaking from Kerala, highlighted the cost-saving benefits of the direct government-to-government recruitment approach, which removes the need for third-party agencies. “We’re doing this on a once-for-Wales basis, so rather than having seven different health boards coming over here to recruit independently, we’re doing it on behalf of all the health boards in Wales,” she said.
While Kerala nurses continue to play a crucial role in supporting NHS Wales, calls for better pay, retention strategies, and career progression pathways remain at the forefront of discussions surrounding the long-term sustainability of the Welsh healthcare workforce.
(Image credit: Swansea Bay University Health Board)
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