HE is the man who goes the extra mile to put a smile on patients’ faces.

Craig Hobbs works as part of the maintenance team at Southampton General Hospital.

Now he has been nominated for the Daily Echo’s Readers Choice Award as part of University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust’s Hospital Heroes awards.

The 29-year-old has been nominated by Luke Smith and his friend for his “excellent and tireless work” while Luke was in hospital.

Luke spent a week in hospital last summer, during the World Cup.

While Luke was recovering in Southampton General Hospital, Gareth Southgate’s England kept football fans on the edge of their seats by reaching the semi-finals.

He said: “Being a massive football fan and having to spend a week in hospital, I was absolutely gutted to be missing it.

“Craig came and said hello and updated me on the games every day I was in, and also repaired my TV for the England game just in time.

“He seemed to be very helpful and nothing was too much trouble.

“I believe he stayed an extra shift to make sure many of the patients on the ward got to see the England match.”

Craig, who won last year’s in-house category at the awards for unsung hero, said: “It’s nice to give something back and it’s great to be part of the hospital.

“No one comes here because they want to be here.

“It doesn’t take much to sit and have a chat with someone.

“Luke loves his football and he was gutted to be in hospital and missing the World Cup.

“I wanted to cheer him up.

“It makes it all worthwhile to be acknowledged.”

You still have time to nominate your Hospital Hero. A volunteer, a nurse working long hours, or a midwife bringing a newborn into the world, are all worthy of a nomination.

To nominate, email georgia.jackson@dailyecho.co.uk, call 02380 284472, or write to Georgia Jackson, Daily Echo, Test Lane, Redbridge, Southampton, SO16 9JX.