A local NHS trust is celebrating the vital contribution made by internationally educated nurses to its patients.
Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCft), the leading provider of NHS mental health services across the area, held an event at Crossgate Church in Preston to thank nursing colleagues from abroad, who make up one-fifth of their inpatient nursing workforce.
Interim Chief Nurse and Quality Officer, Julie Anne Murray, opened the event by thanking the nurses for their contribution to patient care and also congratulated the newly appointed Chief Nurse, Oliver Soriano, who has made history by becoming the first person from the Philippines to be recruited as an executive nurse director in the NHS.
He will officially begin in the role early next year.
Oliver, who attended the event, said: “We have always recognised just how important each and every one of our nursing staff are, but it is right to acknowledge and show gratitude to the life-changing decisions that our internationally educated nurses have made to be with us here at LSCft.
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“As an international nurse myself, I empathise with the sacrifice that these colleagues have made, potentially leaving friends, family, and loved ones behind to start a new chapter overseas in search in search of a career and new opportunities.
“This event was to show our internationally educated nurses how much we really value their commitment, say thank you on behalf of our patients and colleagues and to celebrate the outstanding achievements they have already accomplished.”
The Trust’s workforce currently consists of nurses originally from an array of countries including from Botswana, Eswatini, Ghana, India, Iran, Kuwait, Nigeria, Oman, the Philippines, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, Zambia and Zimbabwe, as well as the many British born members of the team.
For more information on our recruitment opportunities, you can visit the Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust website.
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