TWO teams of specialist nurses in Birmingham have won national awards for excellence in their specific fields of medicine.

The military plastics outreach team at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Selly Oak, was honoured in an awards scheme organised by Nursing Standard, the UK’s best‑selling nursing journal.

The Collaborative South Asian Resource and Education Network in Arthritis Team (CARE), from Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, also scooped a Nursing Standard award during the ceremony in London.

The military plastics team, led by Major John Clark ARRC, scooped the Defence Nursing award for its ground-breaking care of patients with extensive soft tissue injuries, whether from bomb-blast, bullet or accident.

Maj Clark said: “We are in a very privileged position and we take great pride in providing the best possible care.”

Headed by Kanta Khumar, the CARE team was successful in the Innovation in Rheumatology and Rheumatoid Arthritis category.