Nurses from overseas bridging the recruitment gap at hospitals across the Meridian region

Many hospitals in our region are recruiting nurses from India and the Philippines because of a shortage of staff here in the UK.

ITV News Meridian has found that thousands of nursing jobs are available at Health Trusts across the south east.

NHS bosses say they're recruiting from Asian countries as fewer British and EU nurses are applying for jobs here amid the uncertainty of Brexit and what the future may hold.

  • WATCH: Tom Savvides reports exclusively from Eastbourne Hospital

Patricia Marquis, the Director of the Royal College of Nursing, said that action is needed now to address the shortage, including better funding for healthcare education.

  • WATCH: Patricia Marquis speaks to Fred Dineage about the nurse recruitment crisis

The Department of Health and Social Care told ITV Meridian that they've announced funding to support placements for an extra 5,000 pre-registration nurses in the UK last year.