THE amount of money spent on temporary nursing staff in Colchester has more than doubled in a year.

Figures released by the Royal College of Nursing show the trust which runs Colchester General Hospital and Essex County Hospital shelled out £2,282,000 in 2012/13.

Last year, that figure increased to £5,070,000.

Both figures include money spent on agency and bank staff.

The college says the figures show hospitals across the East of England are struggling to recruit permanent staff, which is why they are having to fork out to cover the cost of temporary staff.

Lynn Lane, trust HR director, said nursing bosses were getting on top of the problem, but she admitted it would take some time before staffing levels were ideal.

She added one of the main changes wards had made was to prepare working patterns between six and eight weeks in advance, instead of working week to week.

Mrs Lane said: “Planning ahead makes a huge difference.

“It means we are then able to see where we are going to need bank or agency staff down the line and be prepared for that.”

She also said 30 students about to graduate from Essex University and Anglia Ruskin were due to be offered jobs today.