A major campaign to recruit more nursing staff at Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust is paying dividends.

A first assessment day saw a 100% success rate, with all candidates placed in roles across the trust.

After the launch, 11 permanent nurses were recruited and more than 50 nurses (both internal and external candidates) joined the bank staff (an in-house rota system that fills vacant shifts needing to be covered).

Chief nurse Suzanne Banks said: “The campaign is working. We have seen an increase in the number of people viewing our nursing recruitment adverts and applying for jobs.

“Many people have been surprised at the range of opportunities we have available.

“After being rated by the Care Quality Commission as good for both safety and care provided, the trust is now determined to further improve to become outstanding.”

The trust, which runs King’s Mill Hospital, Sutton; Newark Hospital; and services based at Mansfield Community Hospital and Ashfield Health Village, Kirkby, is performing strongly in many areas, such as the four-hour standard for urgent care, sepsis management and infection control.

Suzanne added: “We are taking a different approach.

“Rather than advertising individual nursing vacancies, we now have a range of assessment days lined up, which are designed to make joining our team as easy as possible.”

A dedicated recruitment website has been set up at sfhjobs.co.uk

The next assessment day is on 8 June, applicants can apply via sfhjobs.co.uk