The NHS which serves Macclesfield is now more diverse than ever.

East Cheshire NHS Trust's workforce now includes colleagues from more than 60 nations across the globe, with staff from overseas playing a key role in providing excellent patient care across its services.

The Trust, which manages Macclesfield District General Hospital, Congleton War Memorial Hospital, and Knutsford District and Community Hospital, along with community-based health care services across East Cheshire, has recently welcomed colleagues from ten countries that had not been represented among the Trust's colleagues previously.

The last 12 months has seen the Trust welcome recruits from countries including Cyprus, Malaysia, Sweden, Jordan and Tanzania.

This means that people from a total of 65 different nations across the globe currently contribute to patient care and the smooth running of the Trust and its services throughout the local community, bringing with them a range of diverse experiences, cultures and perspectives.

Recruits from overseas are met with a warm welcome from the Trust, and receive focused pastoral care, to help them settle into their new workplace. Earlier in the year, the Trust was awarded the Pastoral Care Quality Award, this prestigious award recognises the commitment the Trust has made towards international recruitment and the high-quality pastoral care provided to internationally educated nurses and midwives.

Jake Mairs, Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at East Cheshire NHS Trust, said: "As a Trust, we remain committed to ensuring diversity is championed and celebrated across our organisation.

"We are deeply passionate in supporting and nurturing diverse talent, being a great place to work, and providing high quality care for patients, families and communities.

Macclesfield Hospital, of Victoria Road. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

"We are also proud that we were awarded the NHS Pastoral Care Quality Award earlier this year, in recognition of the ongoing support and dedication provided to our colleagues."

Working as a paediatric nurse at Macclesfield District General Hospital since 2022, Stephen Kwarteng, who is from Ghana said: "It's been absolute fantastic ever since l joined the Trust at Macclesfield Hospital in September 2022.

"It's been a blessing to be part of the hospital and I am very proud to execute my role as a paediatric nurse within the Trust.

"The training I have acquired has made me very competent and confident in delivering holistic care to patients. A big thanks to the Trust for making me what I am today."

The Trust currently employees over 440 colleagues from overseas in total.

Including bank staff, East Cheshire NHS Trust boast over 3,000 staff.