Pioneering research into skin allergies has scored an Oxfordshire nurse a top award.

Janice Cameron, from Oxlease, Witney, is celebrating today after her innovative work at the John Radcliffe Hospital won her the Nurse 98 award for wound care.

She was given her award by Prime Minister Tony Blair at a ceremony this week.

Ms Cameron, who is based at the dermatology department in Oxford's Churchill Hospital, said: "I am delighted. It was very exciting meeting Tony Blair and it is great to have your work recognised."

The award was given for research into allergies and how they affect the treatment of leg ulcers.

Ms Cameron explained that treating leg ulcers was expensive because of complications, often caused when the patient has an allergic reaction to some part of the treatment.

Ms Cameron set out to pinpoint which part of the treatments caused a reaction in patients and eliminate that factor from their treatment.

To do this she developed a directory listing which allergens were present in which products and what to avoid for certain categories of patients.

She also developed a allergen alert card for patients to carry, listing their particular problems.

Ms Cameron also set up regular study days and workshops for nurses giving advice on what can be used safely for different patients

"The problem is most patients don't have a list of what they are allergic to so it is extremely difficult for nurses to know what to avoid," she said. "So my work was looking at how to identify them for the nurses to make their lives easier." filler here

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