Long waiting lists, inability to get appointments, hours in A and E - there is certainly a lot wrong with the NHS at the moment.

This month, however, we have reason to celebrate with the news that 100 new care assistant's have been hired in Cumbria in what the North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust has described as the biggest and most successful health recruitment event ever seen in north Cumbria.

The NCIC and Cumbria County Council joined in this first recruitment day of the year.

More than 100 of the 120 candidates who attended have been successful in their applications to become health care assistants for NCIC and appointments were also made by CCC.

Who are these health care assistants?

According to one district nurse, they are people worth their weight in gold.

In a hospital setting, as more and more demands are made on trained nurses, the health care assistants can step in to provide, literally and figuratively, the soothing hand on the brow.They are there to monitor patient condition, help people to move around, make beds and make patients feel comfortable.

In a GP surgery they will carry out health checks, keep medicines restocked and do whatever else is required.

In the community they provide personal care, maintain patient hygiene, assist with eating and toileting and

providing social interaction and psychological support, and basic housekeeping.

On the face of it it could be thought that these are the Cinderellas or Cinderfellers of the NHS. Without them, however, an embattled health service would be worse without them.

Elaine Crooks, Clinical Nurse Improvement Lead - End of Life Care, said:“I have been really impressed by the calibre of candidates. The openness and insight individuals have to caring for patients and families is really brilliant. This is the first time I have been involved in recruitment on this scale.

“It is great to be part of joint recruitment with our CCC colleagues and makes sense to recruit together to make sure we can match people to their strengths and area of care where they feel best placed.

“The future of care in north Cumbria looks very hopeful if we can continue to attract the level of skills and motivation seen today.”

Cumbria County Council’s Assistant Director, Adult Social Care, Catherine Whalley said:“The amazing response to the recruitment day highlights how people are looking for a rewarding career that will make a real difference to people in your community."