This year's Health and Social Care Awards received a royal seal of approval when the Prince of Wales attended the presentation ceremony.

Winners included the dermatology department at University Hospital NHS Trust in Nottingham where nurses undertake biopsies of suspected skin cancers and the Norfolk Family Support Teams which provide early mental health intervention for children at a primary care level.

Other awards recognised excellent team work within health and social services in areas including mental health, cancer, coronary heart disease and primary care as well as children's and older people's services.

Awards were also made to two outstanding individual achievers. They were Christopher Chambers, team manager at the Adult Community Mental Health Team at Somerset Partnership NHS and Social Care Trust in Yeovil, and AIDS specialist Professor Brian Gazzard of Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust.

The Prince of Wales, who presented the Queen Mother Award for achievements in intermediate care to Poole Intermediate Care Services, paid personal tribute to the care he has received from health professionals throughout his life.

He said: "These awards give the opportunity to bang the drum for what is best in health and social care in Britain.

"We all want speedy and quality care and to look after the vulnerable and I have been impressed by the enthusiasm, professionalism and commitment shown by the winners."