Our Trust welcomes international nurses
11/02/2019
This article is more than five years old.
International nurses recently recruited by Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have been formally welcomed to the organisation by Chief Executive Dr Bruno Holthof.
Nearly 40 international nurses hired in the first year of our recruitment campaign also met with Chief Nurse Sam Foster; Vice-Chair Anne Tutt; and Associate Chief Nurse Andrew Carter, at a meet-and-greet celebration on 31 January 2019.
The event shared the success of the campaign, and provided an opportunity to celebrate the first successful year since the first international nurse arrived.
Dr Holthof said: "It was a pleasure to meet the wonderful new international nurses we have recruited.
"They have settled in admirably well, are assets to the Trust, and will help us provide the best possible care to our patients.
"Oxford has a fantastic reputation in welcoming people from all over the world, and we are proud of our success in recruiting these nurses.
"We look forward to welcoming more in the future."
The new recruits, from across India, the Philippines, the Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean, and the US, are based at all four of our hospitals.
One of those to join us is 29-year-old Curtina Stapleton, who, from St Lucia in the Caribbean, started work at the Women's Centre at the John Radcliffe Hospital in August 2018.
She said: "When I started at the Trust I was frightened by moving to a new country where I didn't know anybody or what to expect. However, everything fell into place and I was given all the support I needed. I'm supported by an excellent team and getting more confident.
"Choosing Oxford was easy because it's known around the world for its healthcare and culture. It was an easy decision.
"I really enjoy working here and I've been made so welcome that I feel at home."
The Trust is carrying out a staffing initiative to recruit international nurses to join our nursing teams across all four sites.
Our aim is to recruit at least 200 nurses over the next couple of years. Seventy have started already, and they begin their employment at the Trust on a monthly basis.
Our recruitment teams have visited India twice and the Philippines once. A third visit to India is planned for March 2019. We also carry out Skype interviews to the Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean, and the USA.
The initiative, which acknowledges the known national shortage of nurses in the UK, is already introducing diversity, new ideas and stability within our nursing workforce.
Sam Foster said: "It's a real privilege to welcome our international colleagues to our nursing team. I am particularly pleased that we have been able to recruit experienced nurses in specialties such as operating theatres, and both adult and children’s intensive care - this will have a significant impact on our patient care.
"To meet them all really meant a lot to us as a Board. We are very proud of the level of experience and specialism of our new nurses.
"We value their expertise, and we're so lucky to have them."
Andrew Carter said: "To lead this recruitment project, and to see 70 nurses come in to the Trust and do so well, has been one of the proudest moments of my career."
Pictured: nearly 40 international nurses met Board representatives at the meet-and-greet event.