HUNDREDS of new nurses and midwives will be joining the ranks of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

The country’s busiest health board will be enlisting 536 newly qualified employees, some of whom already worked at the height of the pandemic.

Dr Margaret McGuire, Director of Nursing for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “The nurses and midwives joining the health board officially this week marks a significant and unique recruitment of graduates and reflects one of the most important periods in our history. Along with their numbers, they bring a wealth of additional experience gained in the past six months.

“This will be invaluable in supporting us in our response to Covid-19 as we move into winter, and the experience alone will bolster their own careers as they move into their chosen specialisms within healthcare.”

The newly qualified graduates add to the health board's 12,000-plus qualified nurses and midwives across Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Dr McGuire added: “Greater Glasgow and Clyde represents the biggest and busiest health board in Scotland, and it remains a destination for many graduates who recognise the breadth of opportunities for them to develop their careers. New staff will learn from a highly skilled and experienced workforce and will play a central role in the ongoing delivery of high-quality person centred care during what is an unprecedented period for the health service.

“As always, we are absolutely committed to ensuring that the appropriate structures and networks exists to support all of our new staff so they are able to grow and develop personally and professionally, while helping us maintain an extremely high level of care in an exceptional set of circumstances.

“I want to thank all our nurses and midwives for their professionalism, dedication and kindness to the people the care for and would remind them to be kind to themselves and colleagues as well.”