A NEWTON nurse has received a top prize for his innovative work with schizophrenics during a special ceremony at London's Dorchester Hotel attended by more than 300 honorary guests.
Father-of-four Mike Smith, a psychiatric nurse who works part-time at the Widnes-based Community Integrated Care charity, was featured in the Star earlier this year when he won the Nursing Standard Nurse '97 Award for his pioneering work treating schizophrenia.
This has taken the form of a series of self-help books produced with the help of former patient Ron Coleman, encouraging sufferers to listen to the voices they hear in their head which Mike believes allows them to take control of their illness and can do more good than a lifetime of prescribed drugs.
Mike, who is currently studying for his PhD in 'Recovery from Psychosis', was presented with his award and a cheque for £3,000 by Health Minister Frank Dobson.
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