ABOUT 90 new nurses will be on the wards of Worcestershire hospitals this winter.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has created 90 new posts across the county.

The trust has also stated it has recruited about 50 nurses to replace those who have left during the county health shake-up.

Trust chairman Harold Musgrove said: "We are pulling out all the stops to ensure we recruit as many nurses as possible to Worcestershire hospitals in readiness for this winter.

"Obviously we are exploring all the options available to us nationally but in addition we are also looking to the Philippines where there is a surplus of qualified nurses trained to the same high standards as Britain and who are, of course, English speaking.

"This week a senior nurse and member of the personnel team are visiting the Philippines to interview more than 50 nurses over a three-day period."