BURNLEY Health Care NHS Trust today received an unrivalled assurance over staff shortages when the chairman declared: "We have the highest number of staff we have ever had."

Azhar Ali told a meeting of the board that the trust now employed a total of 3,598 professional staff -- an increase of 210.

The new recruits include 37 nurses from the Philippines which were drafted in in April and September last year.

Mr Ali said: "We now have 210 more professional staff despite the national shortages. We are doing very well especially in nursing. People in the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale area can be confident and reassured that the Trust is doing its utmost. This is the highest number of staff we have ever had. Things are looking much better than a couple of years ago, it is getting better year on year."

Frank Clifford said it was encouraging and enquired how the nurses from Malaysia were settling down to life in East Lancashire. Director of nursing Lesley Doherty commented: "They were all degree skilled nurses with a very high standard of education. Usually members of staff are given up to six months, the first 25 had their registration in the first 16 weeks."

Each had a mentor nurse and after being found hospital accommodation now live in the community.

Lesley added: "It took a while for them to get used to the cold and rain and what a Jacob's Join was."

She said they had integrated well into the organisation and always had a smile on their face.

She said that rather than losing any they had gained one who had moved over from Leeds.