The Mercer Ward at Maidstone Hospital has won this year's Kent Messenger Hospital Hero award.

The gong aims to recognise staff at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help patients over the last year.

Dozens of you have been in touch over recent months to nominate the candidates you believe are worthy of winning, but it was the team on the Mercer Ward - a 26 bed unit caring for elderly patients - which emerged victorious.

Doctor, broadcaster and comedian Dr Phil Hammond joined trust chief executive Miles Scott and chairman David Highton on stage at a glitzy ceremony to present the awards in front of more than 300 members of staff.

A charity raffle on the night also raised almost £1,000 for Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Hospital League of Friends.

Below are the full details of the winners and award categories:

Patient First

Runner up – Individual: Helen Veal, Stroke Lead Orthoptist

Winner – Individual: Emily Parsons, Macmillan Cancer Support Worker, Maidstone

Runner up – Team: Midwifery Support Workers, Birth Centre, Maidstone

Winner – Team: Acute Medical Unit, Maidstone

Respect

Runner up – Individual: Maureen Fuke, Booking Clerk, TWH

Winner – Individual: Nicola Mitra, Chaplain

Runner up – Team: Joe, Ian and Dean, Porters, Maidstone

Winner – Team: Rubin Clinic

Innovation

Runner up – Individual: Joanne Jones, Critical Care Research, TWH

Winner – Individual: Jacqui Featherstone, League of Friends Shop Manager, Maidstone

Runner up – Team: Ward 2, TWH

Winner – Team: Edith Cavell, Maidstone

Delivery

Runner up – Individual: Dan Lyons, Theatre Manager, TWH

Winner – Individual: Laura (Lou) Gravenell, CT Superintendent, Maidstone

Runner up – Team: Cardiac Cath Lab, TWH

Winner – Team: Domestics, ITU, Maidstone

Excellence

Runner up – Individual: Sarah Radford, Paediatric Dietician

Winner – Individual: Dr Scott Takeda, Cardiologist

Runner up – Team: Pam Bridger and Gayle Epps

Winner – Team: Facilities

Kent Messenger Newspaper Hospital Heroes Award

Winner: Mercer Ward

Special Recognition Award

Winner: Ben Medford, Medical Physicist

Chairman’s Award

Winner: Sharon Melville, Lead Clinical Site Manager

Volunteer of the year

Runner Up: Volunteers on Ward 20

Winner: Fay Norris, Maidstone

Team of the Year

Runner Up: Mortuary

Winner: Haematology and Oncology Day Unit, TWH

Employee of the Year

Runner Up: Mansiri Gurung, Mercer Ward Manager

Winner: Pauline Smith, Breast MDM co-ordinator