Hundreds of overseas nurses recruited as successful campaign to fill vacancies comes to a close

A recruitment drive aimed at filling hundreds of nursing vacancies in Swansea Bay has ended after successfully reaching its goal.

Since the programme started six years ago, 569 nurses have been recruited from around the world – bringing a wealth of knowledge, expertise and culture to complement the staff already have in place across the health board.

The majority of the nurses have gone into roles within adult acute care areas, paediatric and neonatal, theatres, cancer services, ITU, maternity and mental health services across our hospitals.

It leaves the health board in the fortunate position of now having a very low level of vacancies for Band 5 registered nurses.

PICTURED: The nurses were treated to a special celebratory event marking the end of the recruitment campaign.

Boosting nurse numbers not only ensures the health board can deliver better care to patients, it has also cut demand on bank and expensive agency staff to fill vacancies, which is helping the health board financially.

Head of Nursing Education and Recruitment, Lynne Jones, said: “The international nurse recruitment programme, alongside UK domestic recruitment, has been a huge success.

“Ahead of the recruitment drive, we identified a big vacancy gap in Band 5 nursing roles which was an issue felt across the UK.

“We had to address that problem and a major recruitment drive was the best option. We have ethically recruited from countries which have surplus nurses, and we are now benefiting from their experience and skills gained in their careers to date.

“We have also supported 21 staff who had initially joined us as healthcare support workers but were registered nurses in their country of origin. They were provided the same support as our newly recruited internationally educated nurses to ensure every opportunity to be successful in completing the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s Test of Competence.

“Their managers saw the potential in these staff and fully supported them to transition into band 5 posts in the organisation via the OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) preparation programme.

“In addition, 22 nurses have been OSCE trained from other health boards – Velindre NHS Trust and Powys UHB – in our specialised training centre at our Baglan headquarters.”

Overseas nurses who have been employed by Swansea Bay in the past 12 months were invited to a special event to celebrate the conclusion of the recruitment programme.

Hosted by Liz Rix, Executive Director of Nursing and Patient Experience, the nurses were treated to an afternoon tea to mark their sacrifice of leaving their home country – and in some cases family members behind to progress their careers in south west Wales.

Lynne added: “It was an opportunity to officially welcome them to Swansea Bay and thank them for moving such a long distance to start life and employment in a totally different country.

“We now have a great blend of staff in terms of culture and diversity, and that leads to even better care for our patients.”

Chinchu Joy, works in Singleton Hospital’s theatres, said: “I moved here because it offers excellent opportunities for professional growth, high standards of healthcare and a diverse, multicultural working environment.

“The NHS is known globally for its commitment to patient care, and I am eager to contribute my skills to such a respected system while continuing to learn and develop as a nurse.

“Additionally, it provides structured training and support for internationally educated nurses, including clear career progression pathways. I’m also motivated by the chance to gain international experience, enhance my clinical skills and work in a setting where continuous learning and evidence-based practice are strongly encouraged.

“On a personal level, I’m excited to experience life in a new country, meet people from different backgrounds, and be part of a society that values equality, compassion, and professionalism in healthcare.”

Asma Sharin, works in Singleton Hospital’s theatres, said: “Working for a health board in a new country is a journey of discovery. It requires an open mind, a willingness to adapt, and a proactive approach to building a new life.

“While there will be challenges, the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally in a new environment can make it a truly transformative experience. I really appreciate my OSCE team and new co-workers in helping me to achieve this goal.”

While the international recruitment program has come to an end, the health board will continue to develop staff at its dedicated training centre in Baglan.

Lynne said: “We are focused on nurturing our staff and their skills to not only strengthen their current role but to develop them for more senior roles. The training suite is a perfect location for that.

“It is used for all types of training and education for the nursing and midwifery workforce along with our HCSWs.

“At the centre, we deliver varied skills training, clinical induction programmes for HCSW and international nurses, and leadership and development programmes for Band 7 ward managers/team leaders and 8a/8b matron level.”