HEALTH chiefs have received a boost in their efforts to recruit more intensive care nurses to Worcester Royal Infirmary.

There have been 41 applicants for 16 positions for the six ITU and high dependency beds announced last week as part of a £1.4m Government package.

The 16 additional nurses will boost the number of staff available for the intensive care unit in readiness for the winter period and the opening of the extra critical care beds.

Cathryn Plains, director of nursing for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said it was good news and "is testament that highly-trained nurses see Worcestershire as a place in which they want to deliver high quality care and take advantage of the many opportunities available".

"In addition to the intensive care nurse recruitment we also had a steady stream of nurses from outside the county visit the Alexandra Hospital on Friday, August 11, during the first of our two recruitment days," she said.

"These nurses were interested in posts across all the different departments of the hospital and were particularly impressed by the facilities provided at the Alexandra Hospital."

A second nurse recruitment open day was due to take place today at the Education Centre, WRI, between 2pm and 7pm.