A NURSE whose project to help people with learning difficulties won her national acclaim has collected her prestigious award at a ceremony in London.

Since 2001, Isabel Robinson, of Langho, developed specialist psychotherapy treatment for people with mental health problems at Bridge House, in King Street, Blackburn.

She won the Learning Disability Nursing category in the Nursing Standard awards in August and was pipped by two other dedicated nurses for the overall prize, announced this week.

Isabel, 45, started working as a mental health nurse in 1976 at Brockhall Hospital, was chosen for the final after a presentation to a distinguished panel of judges on the results her scheme has achieved.

She now sees around 40 patients a month, many of whom have experienced trauma, and encourages them to express themselves by means other than speech, such as painting.

The overall winners were Pauline Stratton and Clare McKenzie, from North Cumbria, who established a link with a newly-opened Malawian hospital, the first in the country to be dedicated to orthopaedic care and treatment.

Pauline was tragically killed whilst working in Malawi, which led close friend and colleague, Clare, to nominate her for the awards.

Jean Gray, of the Nursing Standard, said: "Winners like Isabel Robinson extended the boundaries of their practice and acquired new skills to meet patients needs. Isabel is now one of only a few psychotherapists specialising in learning disabilities."