Hospital bosses have launched a recruitment drive to find nursing assistants.

Worthing Hospital and Southlands Hospital, Shoreham, employ about 420 nursing assistants but retaining their services can be difficult. They have 19 vacancies at the moment.

The NHS trust which runs the hospitals is holding an open day on Thursday, April 10, in a bid to take on more staff, who will be paid between £9,735 and £11,835 a year.

Chief executive Roger Greene said the trust had made remarkable progress in recruiting and retaining qualified nurses but the area of nursing assistants was proving more difficult.

Denise Chaffer, the trust's director of nursing, said assistants helped bathe patients, assisted with meals and personal care and provided support after surgery.

Some went on to train as nurses, which takes three years.

The first group of five assistants qualified as nurses in September 2002 and a further 33 are in training.

Denise said: "Nursing assistants make a vital contribution to the smooth running of our wards."

The open day runs from 9am to noon and 2pm to 5pm.

For further information, call Mark Hilton on 01903 205111 ext 5723.