A SPECIALIST nurse has been given a top award for her work with Army veterans.

Diane Palmer, who works for the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, took home the 'Innovation in my Speciality Award’ at a prestigious ceremony.

Mrs Palmer, who heads up the new NHS Veterans Intervention Transition and Liaison Service across the east of England and the Midlands, was given the award for creating the Veterans Universal Passport (VUP).

The passport is a patient-held record of care which includes the patient’s military history, medical history, care plan, crisis plan and useful website and helpline details.

Its aim is to prevent veterans having to retell their traumatic stories at each appointment.

The mental health nurse, who won the Royal College of Nursing (RCNi) award on Friday, said: "I am delighted to have won the award as it will help me to raise awareness of the VUP.

"It is key that all health, social care and welfare staff are aware of the VUP and can document in it their interventions with veterans.

"Small ideas can make a big difference and I hope that the VUP will provide our armed forces veterans with the information they need to make a smoother transition to civilian life."

She added: "One of the big issues we often find is veterans having to deal with several different organisations and agencies and having to repeat detailed information many times.

"This can lead, and has led, to confusion and delay in people getting the help they need."

A pilot of the passport was initially based in the Colchester-based Veterans First service, which is now part of the Veterans Intervention Transition and Liaison Service.

Dr Caroline Shuldham, chair of the RCNi editorial advisory board and head judge, said: "Diane is doing something extraordinary, which is so wide-ranging across health services, the Ministry of Defence, plus social services.

"She is in a different league."

The Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health services for 2.5 million people in Essex, Suffolk, Bedfordshire and Luton.