A trio of regional daily reporters have been shortlisted for awards celebrating the best in medical journalism.

The Medical Journalists’ Association has announced the nominees for its 2016 Awards, which will be held in London later this month.

Eastern Daily Press health correspondent Nicholas Carding, pictured above left, faces national competition in the Mental Health Story of the year category.

Journalists working for the BBC, The Economist, the British Medical Association and ITV News are also nominated.

Said Nicholas: “I’m really pleased to be shortlisted for the award. The story in question was run as part of our ‘Mental Health Watch’ campaign, which has highlighted many examples of mental health patients from our region receiving poor care.

“Our campaign aims to highlight the disparity between the quality of care within physical and mental healthcare, and I’m pleased that this particular story has been recognised by the judges.”

Sam Blackledge, of the Plymouth Herald, is nominated in the Regional Reporter of the Year category for his contribution to the newspaper’s Safer Spaces campaign, which highlighted the “scandal” of people suffering with mental health issues being held in police custody.

He faces completion from Jonathan Gibson, of BBC Inside Out West Midlands, and Matthew Hill, of BBC Inside Out West.

Said Sam: “I am pleased to be nominated for a Medical Journalists’ Association award.

“The continued recognition of The Herald’s Safer Spaces campaign shows there is still an appetite for investigative reporting around mental health issues.”

The winners will be announced in a ceremony held at the Barber-Surgeon’s Hall, in the City of London, on 23 June.

Peter Blackburn is also nominated in the News Story of the Year (general audience) category for an article he wrote while working at the Nottingham Post.

Peter has since moved to the BMA to work as a senior staff writer.