A Bristol nurse who co-ordinates mental health services for prisons and courts in the area has won a national award for his work.

Calum Meiklejohn and his team have been honoured by Nursing Standard in the category of criminal justice setting nurse of the year.

The team has been praised for making the service faster and more comprehensive.

Mr Meiklejohn said: "For the last couple of years we have been working with NHS Bristol in developing and providing mental health services for local prisons and courts.

"We try to help people going through the criminal justice system to identify and help with mental health needs."

Mr Meiklejohn, who is employed by Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership (AWP), said the team tries to identify people who may require support as soon as possible so they have a presence in Bristol Magistrates Court and in Bristol Prison.

He said: "When people are in prison we carry out an assessment and see if there is any need for counselling or treatment and if necessary to try to provide them with that.

"And in court we would try to help the decision-making process by giving the right information regarding health. About 80 per cent of people in the criminal justice system have got mental health needs and we know that there are quite a number of people who end up in court who have been known to mental health services in the past or are currently known."

Mr Meiklejohn said that in the last two years the team has managed to raise awareness about the need for health care in prisons and courts.

He said: "I am very pleased we are receiving this award. It is fantastic recognition for the people we work with. It is not just me, but the people we work in partnership with – the court, criminal justice people, the primary care trust and AWP who have been supportive in working with me."

Mr Meiklejohn will be presented with his award at a ceremony in London in November along with 12 other winners.