NORTH Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust has recruited 14 junior physiotherapists in its biggest single intake of physiotherapy staff to date.

The five male and nine female starters are based at the University Hospital of Hartlepool.

The new arrivals have filled a combination of new posts, as well as vacancies created by the promotion and relocation of other physiotherapy staff.

Their appointments take the total number of physiotherapists and support staff in the trust to 150, making it the largest physiotherapy service on Teesside.

Most of the new staff graduated from Teesside and Northumbria universities, where they completed the mandatory BsC in physiotherapy.

Some have chosen to return to the trust after completing student placements or working as assistants here during the summer vacation.

Each junior physiotherapist will be supported by a senior member of staff throughout the first part of their training period, which can last up to 24 months.

The trust hopes to recruit five more physiotherapy staff, to work at the University Hospital of North Tees, Stockton.