NURSES in Worcestershire are being invited to a neonatal recruitment event in the face of a national shortage of healthcare workers qualified to care for premature or sick babies.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust – which runs Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Kidderminster Hospital and Redditch’s Alexandra Hospital – is holding the neonatal nursing recruitment event on Wednesday, October 15.

In June the trust said it was considering moving all births where the mother is less than 37 weeks pregnant when they go into labour to the Royal rather than the Alex after a combination of retirements, maternity leave and a shortage of specialists left rotas at both centres in an “exceedingly fragile” state.

Although the organisation said last month it had been able to recruit enough new staff to maintain rotas so the move would not be necessary, more new specialist staff are still needed.

The trust’s matron for neonatal services Vicky Bullock said any qualified or student nurses were welcome at the event at the Royal, which will run from 9am until midday.

“We are looking for nurses and student nurses with good communication skills, competence to work in a highly technical area and an interest in newborn care to join our team,” she said.

“No matter what stage in your nursing career you are at, it is worth coming to meet us to find out more.

“We’re happy to give you advice and information about what is needed in order to specialise in neonatal care.

“A career in this field is extremely rewarding, and we look forward to welcoming you into our department during our recruitment event.”

To book a place at the event email Vicky.bullock@worcsacute.nhs.uk.