Waiting times: dermatology nurse biopsy at Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham University NHS trust

The dermatology department of the University Hospitals trust in Nottingham sees some 120 suspected skin cancer patients a week. Until four years ago, there was an average waiting time of eight weeks between the initial clinic appointment and biopsy - then performed only by doctors. There was a further, eight-week delay between the biopsy and any subsequent surgery. Understandably, the waiting increased patient anxiety.

In 1998, the then theatre sister, Gillian Godsell, now a skin cancer nurse, realised there was a solution. She became a biopsy nurse within the department and performed biopsies for two years before going on to develop Britain's first surgical course for nurses, in collaboration with the British Society of Dermatological Surgeons.

Five nurses in the Nottingham department are now trained to perform surgery and provide a "one-stop" biopsy service. If a biopsy is needed, the patient will be sent straight to theatre where a nurse will perform the surgery. Last year, nurses carried out some 1,500 operations.

The award judges praised the approach for reducing waiting and its "massive enhancement of nurses' skills to benefit patient care". Godsell says the role also allows nurses to build a rapport with patients, as they see them throughout their treatment. "Nurses can do surgery as part of the holistic role of nursing."

Promoting independence: CSV Vocal - Community Service Volunteers, Downham Market, Norfolk

At its inception, the scheme enabled people aged 18-30 with learning disabilities to volunteer in their own communities. A decade later, the eldest of the 38 volunteers is 72 and the youngest 17. In addition, a further 40 people give their time to support and train volunteers in skills that en able them to gain independence and become the givers, rather than the receivers, of care.

Socialising is as important as the practical skills that volunteers gain. Playgroups, schools, homes for elderly people, a farm and a museum all benefit from the volunteers' work. The project has also developed a piece of land into a garden, where volunteers grow vegetables to sell.

"They're very vocal and tell me exactly what they want to do," says Lynne Fuller, Vocal project manager. "It's important that they have control."

The project is flexible and some volunteers have several placements a week, from working in a cat sanctuary to conservation, and as a classroom assistant. Some volunteers are referred to adult education colleges to learn computer skills.

Older people: Asian health and social care information project, Bradford social services

A dozen licences are issued each year to community radio stations in Bradford. For just a couple of weeks, the stations celebrate various south Asian festivals. The information project makes full use of broadcasts reaching into the homes of its target group by running phone-ins.

Radio is just one of the ways in which the project has communicated to local South Asian elders and their families about health and social care services. Other methods include information and relaxation events, conferences, leaflets, newsletters, roadshows and a video. Also, the project goes into mosques, temples and gurdwara and runs focus groups on services.

Started two years ago, the initiative responded to research showing that take-up of services among Asian elders was very low. "There was a perception that social services only affected them when there was trouble within the family," says Akhlak Rauf, project information officer.

Research is being undertaken to assess the project's impact, says Rauf. But the anecdotal evidence is that service take-up has increased.