Hospital bosses hope a major recruitment drive will help fill a shortage in qualified nurses.

Last month, only 79.6 per cent of qualified daytime staff shifts at Colchester’s hospitals were filled.

Director of nursing Dee Hackett left the trust earlier this month amid concerns about staffing levels.

In May, the equivalent fill rate was 90.7 per cent.

For night shifts, qualified nurse levels were higher, with a 93.9 per cent fill rate in September.

Deputy nursing director Kathy French said: “We have a lack of qualified nurses which we are looking to address.

“Nursing shifts are looked at four times a day and we move staff accordingly.”

Mrs French said the hospital has put in place a “robust recruitment plan” to employ new nursing staff.

The trust is currently in the process of interviewing nurses from Italy and Portugal, the first of which could start work in late November and early December.

Full story in Monday's Daily Gazette