A TEAM that helps people in the county with mental health problems has won a national award after being nominated by Oxfordshire's MPs.

The Oxfordshire Mental Health Partnership triumphed in the Excellence in Mental Health Care Award category of the NHS Parliamentary Awards at a ceremony in London yesterday.

It supports more than 6,000 people living with mental health problems in the county each year through its recovery programme.

Specialist mental health organisations from the NHS and the voluntary sector work together to help with everything from emotional and physical care to education, employment, financial stability and housing.

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The partnership is made up of Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Restore, Oxfordshire Mind, Response, Connection Support and Elmore Community Service.

A groundbreaking project developing a Digital Care Assistant which allows staff to check on mental health inpatients without waking them at night was also shortlisted in the Future NHS Award category.

Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran said: “I’m absolutely thrilled – massive congratulations to the winners.

"The Oxfordshire Mental Health Partnership are a fantastic example of how the NHS brings specialists together to deliver quality care for our community.

"Commiserations also to the Vaughan Thomas Ward at Warneford Hospital for not winning the Future NHS Award today.

"They were up against some excellent competition, and even getting to the final round is an incredible achievement. They should all be very proud.”