HEALTH chiefs have averted a casualty crisis by filling all their junior doctor vacancies.

Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust has struggled to attract young medics during the past two years, owing to a national shortage of doctors wanting to train in accident and emergency.

Last February, the trust managed to fill only three out of the seven vacancies, leading to an appeal that patients should not attend casualty unless it was absolutely necessary. But in the latest recruitment drive the trust has managed to fill all seven junior doctors' posts.

Trust chief executive John Thomas said: "We did not expect to fill all seven vacancies and we are very pleased.

"This shows that Blackburn has become known as a good place to come. It is mainly through word of mouth that people decide to want to come here." The junior doctors, who work six-month contracts in casualty as part of their training, have already started their jobs.

Meanwhile, the trust has secured funding of more than £500,000 from East Lancashire Health Authority and the NHS Executive to reduce junior doctors' hours further under the Government's New Deal initiative.

The cash will allow the trust to appoint five extra junior and middle grade doctors across paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, general surgery and orthopaedics.

Several non-medical initiatives have also been funded, including a paediatric specialist nurse and a scheme to appoint two nurse trainers on night duty to support nursing staff in expanding their clinical role.

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