NCA Group making good progress on reducing nursing vacancy rates

The Northern Care Alliance NHS Group has been busy strengthening its workforce with a number of successful recruitment drives recently.

This has resulted in over 371 new doctors and 786 new qualified nurses starting work at the Alliance’s four Care Organisations, namely Salford, Oldham, Bury and Rochdale and North Manchester in the last year.

The Group is not resting on its laurels and is keen to attract new staff at every opportunity with another four new recruitment events scheduled for October and November.

A great deal of hard work has been put into strengthening the workforce across the Group over the last six months.

During the summer the Alliance held nurse recruitment open days at all of its hospital sites. 194 nurses and midwives attended the first event on May 9 and a total of 125 job offers were made.

Nicola Firth, director of nursing and acting chief officer at the Oldham Care Organisation said: “We have made significant progress over recent months in reducing vacancy rates.

"Later this year we will be welcoming around 70 newly qualified nurses.”

The Northern Care Alliance is made up of two Trusts - Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust and The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

It operates five hospitals and community services, Salford Royal, the Royal Oldham, Fairfield General in Bury, Rochdale Infirmary and North Manchester General.

Nursing recruitment events in October/November:

October 6 – Fairfield General Hospital/Rochdale Infirmary

October 20 – North Manchester General Hospital

October 30 – Salford Royal

November 3 – The Royal Oldham Hospital

RACHEL Johnson Purdy is an advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) in the Urgent Care Centre at Rochdale Infirmary. 

Rachel’s journey into nursing started with her own experience as a patient’s family member. 

The care received from the nursing team was a massive support to all involved and this inspired her to start what would become a fantastic demonstration of determination and dedication to the profession.

She said: “The support and opportunities to develop at the Northern Care Alliance are amazing.

"I’ve been so lucky and had some brilliant medical mentors throughout my time. 

"Through the support of the organisation, I’ve obtained my prescribing qualification, my first class (Hons) degree and my masters, not bad for a girl who left school with nothing!

"You can do whatever you want to do as long as you’re determined to do it.”

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