A caring nurse who listens to the worries of terminally-ill patients and helps them try to continue with a normal life has triumphed as our Hospital Hero.

Claire Ryan, Macmillan nurse clinician, is the recipient of the Kent Messenger’s award after polling the most nominations from our readers.

All praised her ability to ease her patients’ worries, help explain technical medical jargon and show endless compassion and kindness.

Mrs Ryan helps people with breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body - called secondary cancer.

Her role includes guiding people through the maze of treatments available, help them make decisions and provide emotional support for patients and their families.

She has been in the post for a year and previously worked as lead oncology research nurse at the Kent Oncology Centre at Maidstone Hospital.

One nominee said: “I needed time to accept my diagnosis and was frightened and angry. I must admit at first I wasn’t very polite to her, but Claire took it in her stride with kindness.

“It it hadn’t been for her patience in explaining the treatment options I wouldn’t have had the extra months I’m currently enjoying with my family.”

Others praised the fact Mrs Ryan helped their family members understand what was happening and said she has a unique chatty and friendly manner with people.

Mrs Ryan, who received the KM’s trophy during the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust’s Staff Stars awards, said she was humbled by her win.

She added: “For me my role is not just about the physicality of someone’s disease, but understanding the person they are. For example you could be a mum with secondary cancer still trying to go to work. It is about seeing this bigger picture.

“Another of my patients loved gardening and I helped arrange a volunteer to go in and do their lawn. Arranging things like this is very satisfying.”

She also praised the hospital trust for creating the nurse clinician posts for people with secondary cancer - something other hospitals across the UK are thinking of introducing.