HEALTH bosses are hoping to lure retired nurses or those on a career break back to their former profession.

The chiefs at the helm of 11 health organisations covering Morecambe Bay are encouraging anyone who used to work as a registered nurse to get back in touch in a bid to strengthen staffing levels across the area.

Letters outlining the move have been sent to the estimated 4,000 former nurses living in Cumbria and Lancashire by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

It is hoped the move will give hospitals, GP surgeries and community NHS services in Furness and elsewhere in south Cumbria the chance to employ experienced people who already live within the communities in which they could work.

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Joann Morse, deputy chief nurse at the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust - the organisation in charge of Furness General Hospital, said: "Any nurse who is interested in returning to practice locally can contact us and we can direct them to the most appropriate roles that are available within our partners.

"Locally the NHS is working together to provide support for nurses wanting to return, and we are working across our organisations.

"There are jobs available in the

community, in GP surgeries, in mental health and in our hospitals, so we would urge anyone interested to get in contact."

Anyone considering a move back into nursing would be given help to re-register with the NMC as part of the national return to practice programme.

They would also be offered help with the process of finding suitable available positions within organisations that form the Bay Health and Care Partners, part of the Better Care Together programme.

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Nurses, midwives and other health professionals are being actively recruited by UHMBT to help maintain safe staffing levels within its hospitals.

Qualified nurses from around the world are being sought through international recruiters while a clinical support healthcare apprenticeship scheme is also in place as bosses seek to 'grow their own' staff.

Mrs Morse added: "Nurses sometimes take a career break – or take up another career.

"However they are still nurses and with a specially-designed short refresher course, they can be back helping the public across the area."

Anyone who would like more information is asked to make contact with the BCT team by emailing betterwithyou@mbht.nhs.uk or by calling 01524 518676.