Retired nurses could prove the saviours of Oxfordshire's hospitals this winter if they agree to go back to the wards.

Hospital managers have launched a recruitment drive to attract former staff back to help cover the expected crisis.

While the battle for trained staff hots up, they have promised not to poach workers from neighbouring hospitals which are also hit by staff shortages and bed closures.

As the cold season approaches, the John Radcliffe, Churchill, Radcliffe Infirmary and The Horton, Banbury, are already struggling to cope with high patient numbers. ORH Personnel director Mike Fleming said: "It wouldn't harm their pensions at all and we can offer very flexible packages.

"Older nurses do have great skills and experience and we would like them to come back even if it's just to help for a couple of hours."

But former senior nursing sister Mattie Jefferies, 60, who retired from the John Radcliffe five years ago after a 40-year career in the NHS, thinks it unlikely many staff will take up the challenge. Now a member of the Community Health Council, she said: "Since retiring, I've made a new life for myself and I think a lot of other retired nurses have done the same.

"Even if the managers dragged us all out of retirement, there still wouldn't be enough staff and I think it's going to get a lot worse."

Beds in the acute sector have been reduced by nearly ten per cent because of the recruitment problems. And out of 2,000 nursing positions, more than 300 are vacant.

The Community Health Trust is also in the middle of a recruitment drive with up to 12 beds at Abingdon closed because of staff shortages. The hospitals are also looking at ways to provide cheaper accommodation and subsidised childcare.

Trusts are also enticing new recruits from Oxford Brookes University by offering cheap rent.

Mr Fleming said the recruitment campaign was already working, and for the first time the number of nurses joining the acute hospitals outweighed the number leaving. He said: "We're beginning to see a bit of a return on our many initiatives to encourage nurses into the hospitals.

"If we can sustain that, then we will get out of this vicious circle and it will boost morale and hopefully less people will leave."