CONCERNS have been raised about recruiting health staff from foreign countries following the arrival of seven nurses from India to the Worcestershire Mental Health Trust.

The nurses are set to undergo an induction program at University College, Worcester, for six months before being placed at the Princess of Wales Community Hospital, on Stourbridge Road, Bromsgrove.

The nurses will be placed at both the Clent ward of the hospital and the Brookhaven building on the same site.

The trust has hired the nurses following a recruitment programme undertaken by director of nursing Colin Vines in India earlier this year.

But Unison, the union for public sector workers, is concerned by the news.

"I am concerned that the NHS cannot attract British nurses," said Edna Hall, spokeswoman for Unison in the Bromsgrove and Redditch area.

"I'm sure the nurses are highly qualified but it would be a lot better if working as a nurse was an attractive prospect for young people in Britain."

But Dr Ros Keeton, chief executive of the mental health trust, said: "The nurses will be an asset to the trust and I look forward to their commencing their duties on the wards.

"The Indian nurses are all highly qualified and all have mental health and general nursing qualifications."

Director of nursing Colin Vines added: "I believe the Indian nurses are a good addition to the trust as we are a multi-racial society and will benefit from their background. However, recruitment from this country is a big problem that needs to be addressed, there just aren't enough people for jobs."

The seven nurses will be joined in six weeks time by a further five nurses from India.

christopher.flavell@midlands.

newsquest.co.uk