A CASH injection of £700,000 in to a new hospital pharmacy has proved to be just the tonic to cure a recruitment crisis.

Since the new Fairfield Hospital pharmacy opened in November, staffing levels have increased from 20 to 30.

The investment in the hospital came against a backdrop of a Greater Manchester wide push to try and attract more pharmacists and technical support staff to the area.

The department has been transformed from a small dispensary to a state-of-the art department complete with a separate public waiting area for outpatients; meeting rooms and offices and climate control equipment.

The department has recruited two pharmacists and work is ongoing to recruit another.

Avis Webber, head of the pharmacy, said: "We've really settled in to the new premises now, and it's amazing what a difference it's made.

"There's no doubt that an attractive, modern well-designed working environment has proved to be a key issue for the skilled staff we needed.

"I'm sure that it featured in their reasons for wanting to join the pharmacy team at Fairfield.

"We used to shudder if an interviewee asked to look around!"

The pharmacy is now excitedly preparing for the installation of a new computer system which will give its pharmacists detailed access to patients' drug histories and to supplies at other hospitals.