Nurses who have drifted away from the profession could be attracted back to the NHS thanks to a new flexitime work scheme at Broomfield Hospital.

Senior nurses who set up Flexipool at the Chelmsford hospital are hoping the project will especially appeal to mums who could now fit work around their hectic home lives.

Under the scheme nurses can choose the hours and days they want to work a month in advance.

Initial reports suggest Flexipool is a big hit with nurses - one has even come back to the NHS after an 18-year break.

Cathy Gold, from Broomfield Hospital, said: "With recruitment difficulties locally we realised how important it is to be as flexible as possible to encourage new staff."

"Some people have been put off nursing as a career, or from returning to work, because of the shift work it involves."

She added: "Some choose to work a few early shifts per week, whereas others prefer to start work after 9.30am so they can get their kids off to school. It's as flexible as the staff want it to be."

So far 18 new staff have already signed up for the Flexipool scheme. They got the jobs after answering adverts in local papers and seeing posters in doctors' surgeries.

Mid Essex Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Broomfield Hospital, is eventually hoping to recruit 100 new nurses.

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