HUNDREDS of extra nurses have been recruited for Glasgow’s hospitals boosting the workforce to almost 13,000.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has taken on a ‘record breaking’ 458 newly qualified nurse graduates from Scottish and English universities.

The vast majority of the newly qualified graduates are joining the board from West of Scotland based universities with the remainder coming from other Scottish universities and England.

More than 80 of the new recruits will specialise in mental health services.

The health board said the recruitment was an increase of150 new graduates signing up from last year.

Nurse Director Dr Margaret McGuire said; “As a Board, it is always a great privilege for us to be able to support the development of newly qualified nurses.

“I firmly believe that by recruiting such a high number of graduate nurses and continuing their learning and development we are building on an already highly skilled workforce and ultimately ensuring high quality care for our patients.”

The 458 new recruits will join the board’s existing 12,300 qualified nurses