I hope we never have to do this again

Dame June Clarke, Professor of Community Nursing

She said the hiring of Filipino nurses by Morriston Hospital in Swansea to fill vacancies was "certainly not the answer".

"We need to be able to use our own resources, not stripping those from poor countries that need them.

"I hope we never have to do this again."

Short-term

The first of a group of 50 Filipino nurses are to begin work in south Wales to help a hospital trust avert a staffing crisis.

The Royal College of Nursing said the use of 50 Filipino nurses at in Wales was only a short-term answer.

The RCN has estimated that up to 2,000 new nurses are needed if Welsh hospitals are to avoid a major crisis.

It is calling on the assembly to address the issue as a matter of urgency.

Fillipino nurses are already working in Britain, the first batch arriving nearly two years ago - mainly in the south east of England - but a group was also employed by Llandough hospital, near Cardiff.

The RCN said Ceredigion NHS Trust was trying to recruit in Spain.

The foreign nurses will be paid the same as their Welsh counterparts - but will be restricted to a two-year contract.