Nurse consultant Mary Golden, modern matron for general practice Julia O'Mara, clinical matron for health and well-being Julia Judd and clinical matron for health and wellbeing Stuart Jones were runners-up in the mental health category of the Nursing Times awards.

The Portsmouth City Teaching Primary Care Trust team were commended for their Trailblazers project, which focused on improving the physical wellbeing of patients with mental illnesses.

Mr Jones said: 'We know our project has led to many improvements in the services we offer to our mental health clients.

'In fact it was so successful that two new permanent posts were created enabling us to continue that work today, even though the project itself is at an end. That's the real reward for us.'

Julia Judd said: 'Our project was all about offering a more holistic service to our clients in meeting all their health needs, because life expectancy for those with mental health illness is generally a decade less than for the rest of the population.

'Physical health assessments, including things such as blood pressure checks, are now becoming integral to all mental health assessments, thanks to Trailblazers.'