A PIONEERING mental health service at Oxford University Hospitals has been labelled a 'beacon of excellence' after a scooping a prestigious national award.

The trust’s Integrated Psychological Medicine Service was named the Psychiatric Team of the Year at the Royal College of Psychiatrists Awards at a ceremony this month.

Rather than having the more common model of separate medical and mental health teams, the trust has integrated joined-up teams that include experts in mental as well as physical healthcare.

At the awards ceremony, the team of approximately 40 clinical psychologists and 12 consultant psychiatrists, as well as nurses, occupational therapists, and clerical staff, were praised for delivering a novel way of providing psychiatric and psychological care to people who are physically ill.

Trust lead for psychological medicine at Oxford University Hospitals, professor Michael Sharpe, said: “The trust should be congratulated for having had the vision to build care around patients’ needs; making psychiatrists and psychologists part of medical teams means that the trust can meet all of its patients’ needs, physically and mentally.

“Members of the Integrated Psychological Medicine team do terrific work, not only delivering innovative and integrated clinical services, but also do cutting-edge research and delivering high quality teaching.

“I am proud of all my NHS and University of Oxford colleagues who work well together to deliver real excellence in all these areas.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists judges said: “The team is fully integrated into the general hospital team where it performs important clinical and educational roles.

“It is valued by patients, carers and hospital colleagues, and has been highlighted as a beacon of excellence."