Health trust announces £1/2m investment
A HEALTH trust has announced a £534,000 investment to “strengthen its nursing workforce, further improve care for patients and support colleagues.”
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals has set out proposals to increase the number of registered nurses on adult inpatient wards, in line with national best practice, with the first phase of the plans set to focus on strengthening the mix of skills within teams by increasing registered nurse roles.
The investment is anticipated to cost around £534,000 a year and is expected to be partly offset by savings through reduced reliance on temporary workers, who help cover short-term gaps in staffing.
In late 2025, DBTH – which runs hospitals including Montagu Hospital in Mexborough and Doncaster Royal Infirmary – also welcomed around 100 newly qualified nurses and midwives.
Nurses and midwives make up around a quarter of DBTH’s workforce, and the organisation expects the plans to help reduce pressure on wards, improve patient flow, and support colleagues in their roles.
The new roles will be filled “in stages, in line with service need and graduate nurse availability”, according to the trust.
Chief nurse Karen Jessop said: “Having well-supported, skilled nursing teams makes a real difference on our wards.
“It means colleagues have more time for patients, can support each other better, and feel confident in the care they are providing.
“This investment recognises the safety critical role of registered nurses.
"International evidence shows that higher registered nurse staffing is consistently linked to lower mortality, fewer adverse events and a better experience for patients.
“Ensuring we have the right number of skilled registered nurses is fundamental to delivering safe, high quality care.
“By strengthening our permanent workforce in a planned and sustainable way, we are building stronger services for the future.
“The proposals also reflect the trust’s five-year strategy, Healthier Together, which focuses on putting people first and creating a positive and supportive working environment.
“The trust will continue to invest in recruitment, training, and development to make DBTH a supportive and welcoming place to work.”
Current opportunities to join the team at DBTH can be found online by visiting https://www.dbth.nhs.uk/jointheteam/.