Influx boosts nurse stocks

NURSES from all over the world have been brought to WA in a bid to ease a critical shortage in the profession.

Assibi Nurokina, of Ghana, is one of 40 overseas nurses and midwives who have arrived since last year.

For Mrs Nurokina, who came to WA two months ago and works at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth's weather reminds her of her former country.

She enjoys using medical technology that is not available in her third-world home and hopes to stay in Perth for a long time.

"In terms of patient care, Ghana has a lot of doctors, but if you don't have money you will not get treatment, you will not get any medication," she said.

"In Ghana, you have to have the money before. Most of them can't afford it, so they don't go to the hospital."

Mental-health nurse David Baker, who works at Fremantle Hospital, is happy with his move from England to WA.

He plays for a local soccer club and is eagerly awaiting this summer's Ashes Test series.

Mr Baker said having overseas nurses working here benefited patients.

"In mental-health nursing, you treat patients the same wherever you go, but I guess there are a few cultural differences in Australia," he said.

Health Department boss Neale Fong said health systems around the world were experiencing nursing shortages.

He said recruiting nurses was now just as important as training new nurses or retraining former nurses.

Dr Fong said the key to making nursing more attractive was to make working hours more flexible.