Nurses from Third World countries could be trained in specialist medical care before they arrive in the UK to help run new services at Oxford hospitals.

Managers at the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust, responsible for the John Radcliffe and Churchill Hospitals, are developing new specialist units, but fear they will not have enough qualified workers to operate them.

They are considering plans to train nurses from places like India in National Vocational Qualification and other courses, so they are skilled in specialist treatment before arriving in the UK.

Once in Oxford, the overseas staff would be ready to work in new or expanded departments, like the JR trauma unit being opened in September, or the cancer centre being planned at the Churchill Hospital. ORH head of human resources Theresa Hill said: "We haven't committed to this project yet, but we have to start planning when we know that we need new nurses. For instance, we will need 200 cardiac nurses in the next few years. We are growing everywhere, in trauma, cancer, intensive care, paediatrics, and we will need qualified staff across all our specialities."

The trust is against taking nurses out of Third World countries, but recruitment agencies have said that many are already working in high-paying areas, like the Middle East, and Mrs Hill said these workers could be trained up for three months before working in Oxford.