HOSPITAL bosses hope a major recruitment drive will help fill a shortage in qualified nurses.

Last month only 79.6 per cent of qualified daytime staff shifts at Colchester’s hospitals were filled.

Director of nursing Dee Hackett left the trust earlier this month amid concerns about staffing levels.

In May, the equivalent fill rate was 90.7 per cent.

For night shifts, qualified nurse levels were higher, with a 93.9 per cent fill rate in September.

Deputy nursing director Kathy French said: “We have a lack of qualified nurses which we are looking to address.

“Nursing shifts are looked at four times a day and we move staff accordingly.”

Mrs French said the hospital has put in place a “robust recruitment plan” to employ new nursing staff.

The trust is currently in the process of interviewing nurses from Italy and Portugal, the first of which could start work in late November and early December.

It is also conducting Skype interviews with nurses from the Philippines, who could start in January.

Hospital bosses will be visiting Ireland on November 10, where they hope to be able to recruit up to ten nurses.

Head of human resources Lynn Lane said: “Our aim is by the end of March to come as close as we possibly can to fill the current significant gap we have.

“We will make sure we have external support from agencies so we are recruiting a minimum of 20 nurses per quarter, so we are not left in the current situation with a massive gap.”