The first group of overseas nurses have arrived at Medway Maritime Hospital as the trust attempts to tackle its staffing shortage.

Medway NHS Foundation Trust is also aiming to reduce its reliance on costly agency staff and has been recruiting permanent workers both locally and further afield.

Alejandro Ferrera and Angela Cayon have moved from Spain to start working at the Gillingham hospital.

Mr Ferrera said: “Medway is an excellent place to work and develop my skill-set, as well as a place to contribute my existing skills and knowledge too.

“I was nervous about moving my whole life here, but I already feel like a very valued member of the team. The new accommodation and the people I get to work with on a daily basis here are great.”

The team will be staying in the refurbished on-site accommodation which has space for 25 members of staff and is also available to other clinical staff.

Nurses will be offered a place for up to three months and once they are familiar with their new work environment and local area, the trust will help them find accommodation in Medway and the surrounding area.

Karen McIntyre, deputy director of nursing for women and children’s services, said they were delighted to welcome the new staff.

She said: “We recognise that we need to recruit more nurses – a situation faced by many other NHS trusts.

“What is essential is that we have the right benefits in place to help us retain our nursing staff.

“We are offering many incentives and opportunities, such as flexible working, which helps our nurses who have family commitments, as well as the option to specialise in their desired area of practice, ensuring that our nurses have a career path specially tailored for them.

“With our local open days and the recruitment of our excellent overseas nurses, we are confident that we are building the nursing workforce we need.”