HOSPITAL bosses threw a party to welcome back dozens of nurses who have returned to the wards.

Great Western Hospital first launched its part-time Return to Practice course in 1995 five years before it became compulsory for returning nurses in a drive to get increased quality of care on its wards.

A total of 30 nurses were formally welcomed back last week after successfully completely the three-month course. Seven of them passed in April.

The government is under pressure to increase nurse numbers across the country but poor pay and working conditions is keeping many away.

Recruiting new staff has also proven a major headache for health ministers.

One of the ways it is trying to tackling this is through the Return to Practice scheme.

Liz Jaffray, scheme coordinator at GWH, believes older staff have many benefits.

She said: "The nurses are people who are coming back into the profession between two and 25 years after leaving.

"They have lots to offer the hospital, including an invaluable amount of life experience we need that."

Many of the nurses left to have families and now have the time to commit themselves to the hospital.

Karen Hoffa, 45, of Fareham Close, Park North, is a classic target of the Government's recruitment drive. She left nursing in 1992.

After taking a two-year gap to look after her son and daughter, she worked as a support assistant at Goddard Park Primary.

In 1998 she left to work at Swindon College. She enrolled on the course in June last year.

"I was a nurse in London but had to give it up when my son and daughter were born", she said.

"I decided to come back to Swindon where I was brought up, and start nursing again. The facilities at the hospital are excellent so is the support system which is in place."

Linda Thomas, 38, of Tet-bury Gardens, Malmesbury completed her course in April.

She said the lack of time given to patients was the reason she quit in 1988, but was impressed with the modern facilities at GWH.

"Things have changed now although pay is not a lot better. The course was fantastic very organised and very thorough," she said.

All the returning nurses had to complete 100 practical hours on the wards.

The next course starts in September. Contact Liz Jaffray on 604441 for details.