A ONE-OF-A-KIND iPad app designed to help health professionals deal with female genital mutilation (FGM) has won a national design award.

The 'Let's Talk FGM' app was designed by Joanne McEwan, a public health nurse at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.

Ms McEwan regularly came across survivors of the practice, which is routine in parts of Africa and the Middle East, during her work as a health visitor in the city.

Working with Oxford-based digital agency White October she produced the app, which contains information on FGM, how to get treatment and interviews with survivors.

It went live on September 8 this year and has now won the Gold award in the digital health category at the London Design Awards.

According to judges its simplicity and easy-to-use format has meant that members of the public, not just professionals, have found it an 'excellent' source on information on FGM and a useful tool to spur discussion on the issue.

Ms McEwan said: "The most important factor was presenting the content in a simple, easily digestible way, to give health professionals what they need to start the conversation about FGM."