Friendly Rotherham Hospital is a great place to work, says nurse Laurie

A NURSE praised “friendly” Rotherham Hospital as she encouraged others to join her in working there.
Laurie KayLaurie Kay
Laurie Kay

Newly-qualified Laurie Kay joined last September as part of Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust’s recruitment drive.

The Care Quality Commission has told the trust it must improve staffing levels, particularly with the urgent care centre opening in the summer.

Laurie, who studied adult nursing at Sheffield Hallam University, said: “The trust is known as really friendly and in my experience it really is. Working for a bigger trust is not always best.

“I found out about Rotherham after attending a university nurse recruitment event, where the chief nurse gave a fantastic presentation about what it’s like to work in Rotherham.

“I learnt a lot about the new Urgent and Emergency Care Centre (UECC) and the Compass programme, so I was really excited about applying.”

Compass allows new recruits to join an internal rota giving them the chance to work with heads of nursing in surgery, medical and in the community.

The staff drive aims to increase the number of band five nurses and band five and six midwives at the hospital, the UECC and in the community.

The recruitment open day will take place at the hospital on Saturday, March 18, from 10am to 3pm.

Candidates can be interviewed on the day to shorten the process.

Acting chief nurse Ellie Monkhouse said: “Our last nurse recruitment fair in August 2016 was a great success with offers of employment made to 32 nurses, including three children’s nurses. 

“We hope our next recruitment event will be just as popular. Offering prospective employees the opportunity to have an interview on the day has worked really well.

“We’ve got some significant developments on the horizon including the UECC, so it’s an exciting time to join us.”

Laurie, who now helps mentor new recruits, added: “I really enjoy working here and would recommend other nurses, whatever stage they’re at in their career, to come along to the recruitment day.”