North Cumbria's hospitals chief says is pleased with how the recruitment of staff is developing - highlighting the importance of workers from the European Union.

Stephen Eames, chief executive of North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, said that "inroads" have been made into recruiting staff in a number of key areas, including children's services and consultancy posts.

Tackling recruitment problems is one of the key areas in dealing with long-standing problems at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle and Whitehaven's West Cumberland Hospital.

Speaking to the News & Star, Mr Eames also said he is pleased that the trust has appointed two consultants in acute medicine at the West Cumberland.

"We've still got a large percentage of locum staff, but we have made some inroads into areas that we've been concerned about," Mr Eames said.

"For example, children's services have been of concern and we've recruited staff there.

"We've recruited three junior medics recently and for the first time in about 18 months we've got three candidates for consultant posts.

"I think that's partly linked to the fact that we've linked up with Newcastle hospitals and so when we go out to the market we promote the fact we've got that link with the Great North Children's Hospital so that's helped.

"We've also recruited - which is really important - two consultants in acute medicine which is really going to help us, particularly at the West Cumberland Hospital. In critical areas we've made some good progress.

"Some of the things we've been doing on the educational front - for example we've appointed two professors in partnership with UCLAN - mean we're hoping that as a result there are professors in other specialties who are expressing an interest who otherwise wouldn't. These are all relatively small steps but they're positive ones."

Mr Eames also said that despite the UK's decision to leave the European Union, he hopes that it will not deter health staff from overseas seeking work in Cumbria.

He said: "I don't think there's an immediate impact [of the referendum result].

"We're just in the throws of saying to our staff, because we have a number of staff from the European Union in vital jobs, that we really support them and we want them to stay.

"We're trying to make them feel positive about living and working here. If we weren't able to rely on recruiting from the EU then it would mean recruitment problems would be more difficult and that would be detrimental to local services."