HEALTH bosses travelling to India to recruit specialist nurses have caused outrage among nursing staff who have labelled the trip "a holiday cum business venture".

One nurse employed at Prestwich Hospital said: "I think it is an absolutely disgusting practice in this day and age to use public monies to this end."

Bolton Salford Trafford Mental Health Partnership, the new trust now responsible for Prestwich Hospital, confirmed that members had planned a business trip in early spring to address a recruitment crisis in the mental health services.

Trust chief executive Lezli Boswell refused to reveal the cost of the visit, or how many would be travelling. But she said the trip would be "worth every penny".

Mrs Boswell said: "It is unfortunate that the nurses have called the trip 'business cum holiday' when the board members will be working very hard interviewing."

One nurse, who wishes to remain anonymous, claimed: "About 18 months ago, certain trust board members took a trip to Mauritius to do the same thing. They recruited ten and paid the fares for them to come to Britain to work in the community with the elderly.

"They also spent monies refurbishing a building called Gloucester House for these people. The trust then went on to pay for taxis to run these people around for almost 12 months and when the trust refused the taxi fare, the Mauritian nurses returned home. The cost of all this was phenomenal and now they are about to repeat it."

The trust has employed the services of a Department of Health-approved nursing recruitment agency to help find staff from abroad, but Mrs Boswell stressed the trip was a necessary addition.

"Video links have been used in the past but have proved unsuccessful and this is why the trip is being organised. Feedback from other trusts has indicated such trips are useful," said Mrs Boswell.

"We will make sure that this trip will provide value for money."