Have you received treatment and care from a member of staff at Maidstone Hospital who went above and beyond to help?

The Kent Messenger has once again teamed up with Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust to launch a readers' Hospital Hero award.

We want to hear from anyone who feels somebody at the hospital has delivered the kind of care and support that deserves extra recognition.

In these difficult times of tighter budgets and increased demand for health services, being a Hospital Hero has never been more important.

Nominations apply to staff, volunteers or entire wards at either of the two hospitals in Barming and Pembury, or those working in the community, on behalf of the trust.

Last year, the award was won by Maidstone's intensive care department, after being nominated by a woman struggling with a serious illness, who praised workers who tried to make her life more bearable by washing her hair and even delivering a spa day.

After being presented with the gong by former Loose Women panellist Carol McGiffin, matron Angali Clifton-Fearnside said: "It means so much to know that we made a positive difference to someone’s experience of a very long and difficult time in hospital.”

Nominations are now open for the 2018 Hospital Hero, so make sure you have your say by completing the online form here by 1pm on Wednesday, October 17.

The award will then be presented to the winner, along with a series of other gongs for hospital staff, at a glitzy ceremony on Friday, November 9.