NEWS that Southampton General Hospital has been forced to look to Europe to recruit new nurses should cause us to ask why.

While this paper has no doubt that qualified nursing staff from Spain and Portugal will be welcome additions to the cohort of dedicated staff at the hospital, is there such a shortage of suitable candidates here that hospital authorities are truly forced to spread their net so wide?

If this is the case, and putting aside the welcome news that the intake will boost nursing figures by 180 new staff, then a longterm solution is surely required here in the UK and indeed Hampshire.

With unemployment, particularly in the young, is still a problem as Britain pulls out of the economic doldrums, being able to encourage students to consider a fulfilling career in nursing is a sensible approach if we need to look abroad for recruits.

In countries where the NHS recruits staff, the debate is often about what can be done to prevent the flow of talented nationals leaving their own health services. This may not be uppermost in the minds of local residents who seek a well-staffed health service here.

But if we are to plan for a healthy future for both our local economy and health service, surely we need to encourage more home-grown staff.