A nurse has been voted the best in his field for setting up a hospice clinic to treat people with breathing problems.

Matthew Hodson, 37, was presented with the Nurse of the Year 2013 award by television presenter Fiona Phillips at a glittering national nursing awards ceremony held at the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington on Tuesday night.

He was a finalist for the Respiratory Nursing Award – one of 14 categories – and was selected from hundreds of nominees.

Mr Hodson, who works full time at Homerton University Hospital, in Homerton Row, Homerton, helped set up the breathing space clinic at St Joseph’s Hospice in Mare Street, Hackney, in 2011 to help terminally and seriously ill patients who have advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a serious condition of the lungs.

The clinic helps patients better manage their illness, control symptoms, improve their outlook and plan for their future.

In particular, Mr Hodson has raised the profile of COPD in the borough and has given sufferers another option to plan for the future.

He said: “I’m ecstatic and very honoured to win this award. This clinic could not have happened without the help of colleagues. It means a lot to be rewarded for our work in Hackney.

“COPD is a long-term condition. The outlook for people who come in is variable.

“The symptoms of sufferers are at least as severe as those [of people] who have lung cancer, but their quality of life and emotional well- being is much worse.

“While it is a long-term condition and there is no cure, we can help people manage their symptoms so they feel better.

“In Hackney we have low levels of people diagnosed with COPD, but we know there is a high number of sufferers.

“If you are a smoker who has breathing problems, have slowed down while walking and are coughing more or producing phlegm then go to your doctor to discuss symptoms.”

The awards were organised by national nursing journal Nursing Standard.

Nursing Standard’s editor-in-chief, Jean Gray, said: “Matt’s work is shining a light into an area of healthcare all too often overlooked, despite the thousands of patients who live with COPD’s distressing symptoms. He is an inspiring ambassador for the nursing profession.”

n Anyone who would like to speak to Mr Hodson about COPD can call him on 020 8510 5107.