TODAY the Daily Echo is launching its hunt to track down the unsung heroes of Southampton’s hospitals.

The Hospital Heroes campaign is on a mission to celebrate the dedication of staff who go that extra mile to put a smile on the faces of patients in the city.

We have joined forces with University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHSFT) to shine a light on those individuals who work tirelessly to make a difference to those suffering.

Nominate

o make a nomination call Melanie Adams on 023 8042 4500, email melanie.adams@dailyecho.co.uk or write to Melanie Adams, Southern Daily Echo, Newspaper House, Test Lane, Redbridge, Southampton,SO16 9JX

So whether it’s a dedicated doctor, nurse who has put you at ease, receptionist, midwife, physiotherapist, porter or other hospital staff, we want to hear from you.

Daily Echo readers can nominate anyone employed by the trust which runs Southampton General Hospital, the Princess Anne Hospital and Countess Mountbatten House, as well as some services at the Royal South Hants Hospital.

Last year’s winner was clinical nurse Miranda Gardner who was nominated for the extraordinary care she gave to 22-year-old James Riley after he was hit by a train, leaving him with a catalogue of lifethreatening injuries.

Nominations will be open until December 31 and will be featured in the Daily Echo during the coming weeks.

The winner of the Daily Echo Hospital Hero award will be presented with their award and Echo prize at a special ceremony on February 9.

That is when hospital bosses will also give out their own hospital heroes awards including team awards for team of the year, employee of the year and excellence in customer care award. The overall readers’ award winner will be decided by a panel of Daily Echo judges.

Mark Hackett, chief executive of University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Our hospitals are home to some of the most respected, dedicated and skilled staff in health, medicine, research and education, not just in the UK but across the world, who work with such passion and enthusiasm every day to provide the highest standards of treatment and care – this is what we are striving for in our vision for the future.

“The Daily Echo’s award is the perfect opportunity for readers to reward our unsung heroes – people who have played such a major part in the lives of so many patients and families.

“Every nomination fills us all with great pride and satisfaction and I know just how much the recognition means to our staff and their team members who work tirelessly to deliver for patients every day.”