The recruitment campaign includes doctors, nurses, porters, healthcare assistants and skilled housekeepers to boost staffing levels at a time of significantly increased demand as a result of coronavirus.

A spokeswoman for the trusts said they would be fast-tracking applications to ensure they have the extra capacity to provide the best care for patients over the next weeks. “We urge people with relevant healthcare skills to apply now,” the spokeswoman said.

In a related move, the University of Northampton has announced it is providing free rooms to house healthcare staff and patients to ease the pressure on the NHS during the pandemic. Three hundred vacant rooms will be made available to hospital patients and those in social care that do not have the virus, freeing up space for those who require oxygen or critical care during the crisis. The University has also extended support by offering free parking at the University’s Waterside Campus to Northampton General Hospital staff.

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