New nurses from Portugal have arrived at hospitals serving Redbridge, as part of attempts to improve care.

Following a successful recruitment campaign in Lisbon, seven nurses began working this week at King George Hospital in Goodmayes and Queens in Romford.

The move to appoint nurses from overseas was announced last month by Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals Trust (BHRUT), as part of an improvement plan.

The trust said it was recruiting from Portugal specifically because it has very similar standards of care and training as the UK and it already has some Portuguese staff and they have a very hard working ethic.

BHRUT is currently in special measures with a debt of around £40 million, and was criticised for poor standards of care.

Staff levels has been a particular issue, the trust has said, and last month it was revealed that in May there was only 75 per cent of required staff at the hospitals.

In a Care Quality Commissioning report last year, the trust was finding it hard to attract UK staff because of a national shortage and had to look overseas.

BHRUT chief nurse, Flo Panel-Coates said: “I am delighted to welcome seven of our new Portuguese nurses to our trust.

“They have shared that they are excited to be here and we are helping them settle into their new roles.”

A further 25 nurses from Portugal are set to join at the beginning of November.

Julize Oliveira da Silva, 27, who will be based at Queen’s Hospital, said: “I previously worked in Portugal as a nurse and I thought it would be a great opportunity to work here.

“Everyone has been very helpful and welcoming so far.”