Darent Valley welcomes last tranche of Portuguese nurses

At the end of 2012, the trust recruited 25 band 5 nurses from Portugal, and a further 25 in February of this year.

The nurses commenced employment in groups – the first in October, the second in November, the third on 20 May 2013 and the final group joined the trust on 1 July.

The newsletter said the feedback from the nurses themselves was “very positive” and they had “settled well, feel supported, and like the hospital”. It added that they had also noted “how busy it is”.

Matrons and ward sisters/charge nurses had also reported “very positively” and the Portuguese nurses had “settled extremely well”, the trust said.

“Clinically they are very competent, learn quickly, have an excellent work ethic, use their initiative but have the balance right and ask for help when needed, and generally ‘have exceeded expectations’, it added.