Hospital chiefs hope to lure dozens of nurses from Spain as part of a £1.2m recruitment drive.

The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Dewsbury District Hospital, Pinderfields and Pontefract hospitals, has launched a recruitment drive to find 160 new nurses.

Hospital bosses have thrown open the doors to local jobseekers but says problems with recruiting British staff have forced them to look abroad.

Hospitals have been struggling to recruit British nurses after training places were cut back by the NHS in 2012 in a bid to save cash.

But following last year’s Francis Report into patient safety, they have been advised to maintain a ratio of one nurse per eight patients.

David Melia, Interim Deputy Chief Nurse at The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, said the 160 jobs were currently filled by temporary staff.

He said: “We want to hear from anyone who’s interested in working for us as a nurse, midwife or healthcare assistant.

“As part of our campaign we’re looking to recruit 60 nurses from Spain over the next six months.

“This is to support our domestic recruitment plan to ensure that we have a safe and sustainable nurse-to-patient ratio on our hospital wards.

“Given that all NHS Trusts are facing similar issues, we are finding that the labour market is very competitive hence the need to also look overseas.

“Our process for recruiting all staff, from the local area and from the European Union, is rigorous and ensures we are able to find the most highly qualified, skilled and able nurses to work within the trust.”

Mr Melia said the recruitment drive was also in response to staff feedback about nursing levels on their wards.

The trust is holding an open day for undergraduate nurses and those looking for new jobs in nursing locally on June 24.

More details about this will be published nearer the time.

Anyone interested in working for the Trust can apply online at www.jobs.nhs.uk or call the trust’s recruitment hotline on 07713 307316.

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