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Hospital baby boom

29/ 7/2003

A BABY boom is causing staffing headaches for bosses at Christie Hospital.

A record 28 nurses who work at the Withington cancer centre are expecting babies at the same time and all the mums-to-be have just started, or are about to go on maternity leave.

Nurse Annie Jopson said: "I can't believe there are so many of us pregnant at the same time. It must be something in the hospital water. We all keep bumping into each other. It's great to have so many colleagues to chat about babies and bumps with."

Helen Butler, a specialist surgical nurse from Didsbury is sixth months pregnant. She said: "It's incredible how many nurses on the two wards I work on are pregnant. Three have just had babies and four of us got pregnant within four weeks of each other."

Glenda Laviste, who lives in Withington and is seven months pregnant said: "It's my first baby and I must have sat on the right chair." But while bosses are obviously over the moon for their staff, the timing of the multiple pregnancies means Christie's needs more nurses.

So a massive recruitment day is being held to tempt nurses into joining hospital staff.

Linda Scott, senior nurse at Christie's said: "We are absolutely delighted for them, but we now need to recruit more nurses. We are however looking for people to join us permanently, not just for temporary maternity cover."

The nursing recruitment open day is being held at Christie's on Monday, July 28, from 10am to 8pm and interviews and medicals will be available during the event.

It is being held in the Education Centre of the hospital and anyone interested can just turn up.

For more information about the open day call: 0161 446 3976 or email: nursing@christie-tr.nwest.nhs.uk.