A group of 16 nurses from the Phillipines, who will shortly be taking up duty in hospitals in the South East, arrived in Ireland at the weekend.

The nurses are part of a recruitment strategy to address the nursing vacancies in the region that were identified earlier this year.

The nurses will be employed on a fixed term, two year contract.

On Monday, 17^th June 2002, they commenced a one-week Orientation and Induction Programme in Wateford Regional Hospital and will then commence their mandatory Irish Nursing Board Adaptation Programme in the hospital.

The nurses are living locally and are looking forward to settling into the local community and working within the South Eastern Health Board. All were trying to acclimatise to the disappointing Irish summer weather and some were already searching the shops for gloves and hats!

On completion of their seven weeks in Waterford Regional Hospital, the nurses will be deployed to Wexford General Hospital, St. Patrick’s Hospital, Cashel, St. Columba’s Hospital, Thomastown, and St. Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny, with some remaining in Waterford Regional Hospital.