GWENT nurses have received an apology and praise from a health chief for having to work "under stress" and on occasion under-staffed, while continuing to do their profession proud.

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board chairman David Jenkins said the organisation had been "nurse light" during the past year, in hospital wards and in the community, due to a shortage of qualified staff.

Addressing an audience of more than 350 at the health board's sixth annual nursing and midwifery conference in Newport, Mr Jenkins said: "This is not just a problem for our health board, but for Wales, the UK and further afield.

"There are not enough nurses trained to undertake the work we are now demanding of qualified nurses.

"I must apologise to you. We have been asking you to work a little harder, under stress at times, and a little light at times.

"We have had to be too reliant on temporary, casual and agency staff and that impacts on the quality of care we are able to offer, and on our ability to operate within the financial resources available."

Acknowledging a higher sickness absence rate to be a consequence of the situation, he said that the aim is to increase and build the nursing workforce in Gwent, and the staffing problem is being addressed, with newly qualified and overseas nurses being recruited, some of whom were among his audience.

"We are committed to nursing principles because we believe in having an adequately and appropriately staffed organisation delivering the care we aspire to," said Mr Jenkins.

Referring to a video montage of award-winning Gwent nurses and midwives which opened the conference, and a range of posters illustrating the diverse work and expertise of staff, he said it is "important to demonstrate that as an organisation we encourage and promote excellence, innovation and good practice, and honour those who achieve and manage to reach those pinnacles of good practice."

Mr Jenkins cited falling numbers of cases of superbugs C Difficile and MRSA, and falling numbers of pressure ulcers, as examples of "the quality service that patients appreciate and which they benefit from."

"You deserve to be proud of all you do and achieve. Be proud, because you are doing a very good job," he said.