YOUNG patient Tom Perry has given the thumbs up to the nurse who cared for his injured big digit for our Hospital Heroes award campaign.

The nine-year-old has nominated the John Radcliffe’s Kerrie Wiggins for looking after him after his thumb got trapped in a door.

The Oxford Mail has teamed up with Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust to say thank you to the wonderful staff in Oxfordshire’s hospitals.

Hospital Heroes is your chance to nominate health staff who have gone the extra mile.

Tom, from Wootton, near Abingdon, needed surgery to remove his nail and stitch it to his thumb three days after it was caught in a door on July 3.

The Wootton St Peter’s Primary School pupil had a general anaesthetic and was cared for by nursery nurse Kerrie, of Tom’s Ward at the Children’s Hospital.

He said: “It was minor surgery but it was pretty major for me because I am nine and I had never been to hospital before. I felt quite scared and I didn’t like the idea of having drugs inside me or a tube coming out of my hand.”

He said: “She made me laugh even when I was feeling sad and answered lots of questions when I was worried about stuff and kept her promises about when she would come back to see me when I had to wait. If she hadn’t been there I think it would have been worse.”

Mum Laura Hooking, 48, said his initial reaction to the injury was to have a go at brother Luca, seven, for shutting the door.

She said: “I first heard him blaming his brother and they were having an awful row.

“It took a while to sort out. I thought it was just an argument then I realised he was much more hurt than I thought.”

After a trip to the A&E department at the JR that night her son – whose thumb is set to make a full recovery – was booked in for the minor operation.

She said: “The thing that impressed me about Kerrie was he was pretty nervous and she was amazingly patient.”

Ms Wiggins said: “It was lovely to get a nomination but I was just doing my job along with the rest of the team.

“Tom was a model patient and I wish him a speedy recovery.”

Both an outstanding individual and team will win an award each and nominations from our readers are already pouring in. Winners will be revealed as part of the trust’s glittering annual staff awards in early December.

Send your nominations to Oxford Mail Hospital Heroes c/o Communications Offices, Level 3, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford, OX3 9DU. Please include up to 250 words on why the person or team is your hospital hero. Email: hospitalheroes@ouh.nhs.uk or see the online form at oxfordmail.co.uk/news/hospitalheroes