A STOCKBRIDGE nurse has been awarded the Royal College of General Practitioners Nurse of the Year after being nominated by a senior partner at the surgery.

Ann Stuart, a nurse at Stockbridge Surgery for 24 years, won the prestigious award for her hard work and dedication to patients.

Her colleagues were runners up in the Practice/ Community Nursing Team category.

The awards were open to medical staff throughout the Wessex area. "It was very flattering just to be put up for it but to win was really nice," said Ann, from Andover.

She was nominated by Dr Gareth Evans, who wrote: "She is the backbone of our service, one who looks forward and takes on new challenges and technologies."

"She is very much a team player, highly organised and she really cares about her patients and the rest of her team," he said after she had won the award.

Her colleagues came second in Team of the Year - Dr Evans nominated them because they work so closely as a team. "They are constantly seeking ways to improve their practice and work together to give a seamless service and the best care possible for their patients," he said.