SHE is the senior medical specialist who is “like a friend” to her patients.

Advanced nurse practitioner Sue Dean works at the Royal South Hants hospital in Southampton, tending to patients suffering ear diseases and complications.

The aural care sister has served in the hospital’s ear nose and throat department for 13 years, and previously worked as a community nurse and general nurse, during a career spanning 41 years.

Now she has been nominated for the Daily Echo Hospital Heroes Award for the kind and friendly way she welcomes and treats her patients.

Her roles include dewaxing the ears of post-op patients or those with long-term aural conditions who need regular help cleaning their ears.

Sue was nominated by patient Stephen Beal, who suffers from Meniere’s disease and has spent the past six years receiving regular treatment.

He said: “Sue is outstanding in what she does and always treats me like a friend.

“She is so caring and gentle during the procedure, she is so dedicated to her patients and her staff and will even try to fit me in when she is extremely busy.

“Nothing is too much trouble and I feel she is very worthy to be nominated.”

Sue, 58, said: “I feel very pleased and it is quite an honour to be recognised and make a difference to them.

“I have a large clientele and I see lots of people.

“I’ve got an exceptionally good team that support me and I am very well supported by managers and doctors.”

She previously worked as a community nurse in Romsey after moving to Hampshire in 1996 after working as a general nurse at hospitals in Yeovil and Bristol.

She is among a number of NHS staff who have been nominated for the award, which will be presented at a ceremony on March 3 at the Novotel Hotel in Southampton.