HOLY Cross Hospital has held a celebration of learning and development to thank staff for their ongoing commitment to improving their skills.

The theme for the event was the international diversity of staff. Holy Cross employs a rich and diverse team with staff originating from 21 countries.

Sixteen members of staff were presented with certificates by the mayor and mayoress of Waverley, Councillor John Robini and Councillor Jacquie Keen.

During the celebration, Shinju Philip, a nurse from India, Brittany Gobli, a health care assistant from Saint Maarten in the Caribbean, and Monsiri Karoonchart, a health care assistant from Thailand, shared their stories and spoke about their journeys to working at Holy Cross.

Holy Cross chief executive Dr Ross White said: "Despite the challenges of the past year, our staff have continued to improve their clinical and non-clinical skills by taking part in training.

"We see training as an investment and have an ongoing programme of learning including our recently-developed tailor-made online learning programme.

"We subsidise or pay for staff to study external qualifications and to attend relevant conferences, workshops and study days.

"Our patients have complex care needs so, as staff join our team, we provide a full induction programme and encourage them to expand their knowledge and skills ensuring we can maintain our high standards of patient care."

Holy Cross Hospital is holding a recruitment open weekend on November 6 and 7 from 11am to 3pm.

Visitors will be able to find out about a variety of vacancies within nursing and non-clinical roles.