AN Embsay woman has been presented with a prestigious award in the House of Lords for her work in nursing.

Liz Barrett, who works as a clinical team leader in primary care for Airedale Primary Care Trust, was recognised by the Foundation of Nursing Studies for a piece of innovative work she undertook. Her recognition of the need to find a way of offering guidance and support to Asian women going through the menopause earned her the Transcultural Nursing and Health Care Association's Award for Nursing.

She was presented with a scroll and £3,000 on behalf of Airedale Primary Care Trust at an award ceremony and luncheon with Baroness Boothroyd and Lord Rheas in attendance.

"The word menopause does not exist in the Asian language," explained Mrs Barrett.

"Women are either of child bearing age, or not. Once over that age they are just classed as old women. They do not recognise the menopause as a stage of life and, therefore, do not recognise the symptoms they can suffer and do not know they can get help," she added.

A former nurse at Dyneley House Surgery in Skipton for 10 years, Mrs Barrett is working with Silsden health visitor and nurse Susan Bartlett and senior health promotion officer July White to organise the project and is using the £3,000 to set up a clinic for midlife Asian women in Keighley.

The project also has the support of the Keighley Healthy Living network. The project will be piloted initially for nine months and will be covered by a nurse and a bilingual worker.