A NURSE has used a Hollywood film as inspiration to stop nurses leaving the NHS.

Kathryn Halford, chief nurse at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Trust (BHRUT), secured funding for the Intern project, based on the film of the same name.

Under the new scheme, nurses and midwives at King George Hospital in Goodmayes and Queen’s Hospital in Romford will be coached and mentored by senior members of staff.

In The Intern, Jules Ostin, played by Anne Hathaway, receives advice and support from older intern Ben Whittaker, played by Robert De Niro.

Nurse Halford says she wants to replicate the professional relationship between De Niro and Hathaway.

She said: “I was watching the film and was struck by the power of using some experience, advice and a bit of world knowledge to help younger and newer colleagues.

“We know that new nurses can feel vulnerable when hitting the floor, so this is designed to help them. Our team offers the nurses on the spot help and provides them with a strong support system.

“We are focused on making BHRUT a fantastic place to work and build a career as a nurse or midwife, and I am pleased that this is proving to be so successful.”

Nurse Halford put together a case to Health Education England to fund a team of experienced nurses to work as mentors and coaches to prevent new nurses becoming disillusioned and leaving the Trust or the NHS.

Beverley Sawer, BHRUT’s senior intern, took up her post in October.

Of the 150 or so band five nurses who join BHRUT each year, around one in four would leave by the end of the first year.

Since Ms Sawer joined, only three band five nurses have left. Band five is the first grade of qualification.

Ms Sawer said: “I’m so happy to be able to welcome two new members to my team, so we can do even more to look after the nurses and midwives who are new to our Trust and help them to be happy in their roles.”