A nurse from Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust has worked with Hollywood A-lister Toni Collette to help her portrayal of a breast cancer patient in a new film.

Vickki Harmer worked with The Sixth Sense and Little Miss Sunshine actress as she filmed Miss You Already. Her role as medical advisor on the critically-acclaimed movie, which also stars Drew Barrymore, began with her reading the scripts and working with the writer to make sure the film is true to life.

During filming, Vickki worked closely with the production team and actors themselves, especially Ms Collette, to ensure the film gave a realistic and credible portrayal of the illness. She also worked on set with departments such as wardrobe, hair, make-up and props to make sure the scenes were as accurate as possible.

The film was released on September 25 and tells the story of inseparable best friends Milly (Collette) and Jess (Barrymore) when Milly is diagnosed with advanced breast cancer.

Vickki, who has also advised on Coronation Street, EastEnders and The Archers, said: “Advising on films and television programmes is a role I take very seriously, alongside my traditional clinical duties. Fictional storylines are a valuable tool in helping the public to understand the importance of looking after their health and the processes involved should they need to come into hospital for treatment.

“One of my roles as medical adviser was to ensure the postoperative scenes were realistic, and to provide instruction about the placement and positioning of wound dressings and vacuum drains. It was fun to watch those scenes at a special screening for cast and crew, remembering that I was crouching just out of shot while filming took place.”

When not advising on films, Vickki manages team of nurses at the trust who help guide women and their families though breast cancer from screening, to treatment and beyond. She also runs a specialist nipple tattoo clinic for women who have their breasts reconstructed follow surgery.

The trust manages Charing Cross, Hammersmith, Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea, St Mary’s and Western Eye hospitals.