A lung specialist whose patients say has an unwavering dedication to research and regularly goes the extra mile for them is the Kent Messenger’s Hospital Hero 2016.

Dr Leon D’Cruz works in the respiratory research department at Maidstone Hospital and was nominated by several people.

Every year this newspaper looks to find a person, ward, or team who has gone over and above expectations to make patients’ lives more comfortable and help them cope with their conditions.

The research associate was praised for his help and care given to those with lung problems and was noted for arranging seminars for people to help manage issues.

He was announced as the award’s winner on Friday at the Staff Stars held by the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust at the Hop Farm in Paddock Wood, presented by Debbie McGee, wife of magician the late Paul Daniels.

Dr D’Cruz was described as someone always looking to improve treatments with research.

Anne Baughurst of the Kent Lung Awareness charity works closely with Dr D’Cruz. She said: “He does tremendous work helping with our charity. He is always on hand, always cheerful and is a fantastic doctor.”

Another patient revealed when Maidstone Hospital got specialist kit, called an electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy unit, Dr D’Cruz paid for himself to fly to Germany and get the proper training on it.

Other nominees for the KM-backed accolade were: the team at Maidstone Critical Care Unit and nurse Michaela Ferreria, Holly Carpenter, a doctor at Maidstone Hospital’s Peale Ward, Robert Collis, clinical support worker, at Maidstone Hospital’s Mercer Ward and the Radiotherapy department at Maidstone Hospital.

Other winners at the trust's staff stars night are:

Employee of the Year

Carol Kinsella, Clinical Manager, Outpatient Physiotherapy

Patient First

Dawn Mepham, occupational therapist and the teenage pregnancy midwives team.

Respect

Isobel Morley, AMU, Maidstone Hedgehog Ward Nursing Team, Tunbridge Wells Hospital.

Innovation

Sandra Wakelin, Lung cancer clinical nurse specialist, Maidstone and the infection control team.

Delivery

Karen Leeson, birth centre manager, Crowborough and domestics team.

Excellence

Leon D’Cruz, Respiratory Medicine Research Associate and the LA1 Oncology team at Maidstone Hospital.

Special Recognition Award

Gnanappiragasam Sithamparapillai, senior biomedical scientist

Sylvia Denton Award for Care and Compassion

Ruth Paul, bereavement midwife

Chairman’s Award

Kemi Adams, traffic officer, security team

Volunteer of the year

Laurie Williams, Maidstone.

Team of the Year

Cardiac Rehabilitation Volunteers, Maidstone