A new on-the-job nursing degree could help to reduce Colchester General Hospital’s recruitment woes.

Colchester Hospital University NHS Trust has 106 vacancies for nursing posts.

It is looking to Scotland and Northern Ireland for staff, but is also looking closer to home to solve the problems.

The hospital has developed an 18- month course with Essex University, which will launch in January and will train 15 people a year.

It is open to healthcare assistants with two years experience.

The hospital is also launching recruitment drives in Scotland, Ireland, India and the Philippines, but it is keen to encourage more homegrown nurses in order to be sustainable.

Full story in today's Daily Gazette