York is one of the first parts of the country to get the go-ahead to appoint a "supernurse".

Health Secretary Alan Milburn has announced that the first wave of 141 nurse consultant posts will include one specialising in aspects of mental health at the York Health Trust. In addition the Tees and North East Yorkshire Mental Health Trust, which provides mental health services in an area which includes Ryedale, Whitby and Scarborough, will get two nurse consultants, in forensic mental health and public health.

Mr Milburn said for the first time nurses could stay on the wards yet still make progress in their careers.

"We have removed the glass ceiling on nursing careers. This is about breaking down barriers between clinical professionals and using the potential of our very best nurses," he added.

The 141 posts were selected from over 300 submissions received from hospitals around the country. All the new nurse consultants will spend a minimum of half their time working directly with patients, ensuring NHS patients continue to benefit from the very best nursing and midwifery skills. In addition the nurse consultants will be responsible for developing professional practice, being involved in research and evaluation, and contributing to education, training and development. Mike McPeake, nurse manager in general psychiatry at the York Trust, said the creation of the new post was a real feather in the cap for York and for mental health, which he hoped would have a regional impact. He stressed that the nurse consultant would work directly with patients as well as on service development and research.

The York nurse will specialise in psycho-social intervention, a package of skills which can involve family-based rather than traditional hospital-based treatment, relapse monitoring, and cognitive behaviour therapy.

Mr McPeake said the post would be advertised nationally as soon as possible. "We are looking forward to developing services for our users based on this appointment. It can only be good for patient care," hes added.

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