AN appeal has gone out to find health care workers in Bolton who can help vulnerable people around Bolton.

Nurse Plus is launching its New Year, New Career campaign in the town this Thursday.

The recruitment drive event is on the look-out for nurses and care workers as well as attracting new people to the profession.

It follows national reports last year of nursing shortages and the company, which provides carers and agency staff, has also been feeling the effects.

Rebecca Millen, marketing manager, said: "The main thing we are looking for is agency staff for care homes and nursing homes. They are desperate for staff and we need to fill that gap.

"This is going to be a big recruitment drive, especially for nursing.

"Nursing is currently suffering from a national shortage of staff, from the NHS through to private firms. It is a major issue.

"Not that many people are going into nursing and that is having a knock-on effect, hopefully we will find plenty of those who have!"

The Bolton based branch will be hosting a recruitment event at 7 Hamill House in Chorley New Road between noon and 4pm on Thursday to talk more about the flexible hours, free training, weekly pay and benefits on offer at Nurse Plus.

A number of roles are available across different environments, including care and nursing homes, as well as assisted living.

It is one of a number of recruitment drives being kicked off around the country, trying to reach those interested in working in care.

Established in 2005 by a group of experienced healthcare and recruitment experts, Nurse Plus now has over 49 branches across the UK.

In July the Institute for Employment Studies reported that an ageing workforce, poor planning by government and the risks from Brexit would result in a fall on nurse staffing levels over a number of years.

It reported at that time there were 360,000 nurses employed by NHS in England, with 600,000 across the whole of UK working in the NHS, care and private sectors.

However, one in 10 nurse posts in England were unfilled.