A quarter of staff performing or supporting surgery at a hospital in Kent last year came from temporary agencies, new data has revealed.

A total of 10,360 shifts in operating theatres and among porters and cleaners were covered by bank or agency staff at Tunbridge Wells Hospital from July 2016 to June 2017, according to a Care Quality Commission report.

Meanwhile, 1,919 shifts were covered by expensive temporary staff at Maidstone hospital over the same period.

Hannah Allard, spokesman for Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, said its vacancy rate has dropped from 26% to 17% following a recruitment drive.

She added: “We continue to attract new staff and are leading in the development of innovative roles and career opportunities for our healthcare professionals.

“We have an ongoing focus on recruitment and host regular open days for staff nurses as well as bespoke events for specialist services.”

NHS trusts and social care providers across Kent have said they are struggling with a shortage of workers.

Christina Shaw from Kent and Medway Social Care Partnership Trust said: “Recruitment and retention challenges are experienced here, as in other NHS organisations locally and across mental health.

“This forms one of the key pillars of our People Plan and there are actions in place across the year to look at innovative solutions to support closing the vacancy gap and improving staff retention.”

Glenn Douglas, chief executive of Kent Sustainability and Transformation Partnership, a body representing NHS and social care leaders, said he believes a new medical school in Canterbury will “provide an essential boost”.

He added: “We want people in Kent and Medway to seriously consider health and care as a career, and the universities will now be offering an extensive range of courses – including medicine – within our region.”