Hard-pressed hospital staff have been hailed as ‘heroes’ by Derriford chiefs for their efforts during a ‘very difficult’ period of staff shortages and sickness.

Top bosses at Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust acknowledged nursing staff has coped with a ‘very difficult period’ and said they were ‘desperately’ trying to recruit people to fill vacant posts.

Paul Roberts, trust chief executive, told board members: “The staff have worked really hard in the past months. They have worked heroically under very difficult pressure.”

The Herald reported last Wednesday that the number of patient complaints about nursing care rocketed by nearly 75 per cent last year.

The papers, presented to board members on Friday, also stated that staff had reported ‘unsafe staffing levels’ and reduced morale.

Paula Vasco-Knight, PHT deputy chief executive, has said the trust has a shortage of 115 nurses and health care assistants, out of around 2,500 staff. Read more