WHISTON Hospital could see hundreds of nurses retire and rehired within the next five years.

According to the latest St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust workforce report, a total of 434 qualified nurses or midwives are currently eligible to retire.

This number rises to 514 within the next 12 months and 969 within the next five years.

The report says discussions regarding “flexible retirement” options for these nurses are encouraged.

It also says the retire and return option – which allows trusts to rehire employees after they take their benefits – is currently proving “popular”.

“Given the workforce challenges it is imperative that the trust can offer flexibility to those staff who wish to retire,” the report says.

“The retire and return option offered under the NHS Pension Scheme is proving popular.

“The number of qualified nurses who could potentially retire is of concern and discussions regarding flexible retirement options are encouraged, as is the promotion of the various NHS Pension Scheme options.”

The workforce report also reveals the trust has spent £2.5 million so far this financial year on temporary staff, against an agency cap set by NHS Improvement of £7.2 million.

“As with the national position the trust has a continued requirement to fill some posts on a temporary basis, using bank, agency and/ or locum workers,” the report says.

“Vacancies have consistently remained the dominant reason for usage, primarily as a result of the on-going national workforce challenges facing the NHS.”