A HOSPITAL director has received worldwide praise for his simple act of kindness when he gave his shoes to a patient.

David Stacey, who works at North Middlesex University Hospital, was at a meeting when he came across Frank Stocksley, who was waiting to be discharged after a stint in hospital for a metabolic disorder.

As the 57-year-old had arrived by ambulance, he did not bring any shoes with him.

But Mr Stacey, 33, had a pair of shoes which were too big for him in his desk drawer, but fit Mr Stocksley perfectly.

Mr Stacey said: "I didn’t think anything of it at the time, I just thought, ‘I can help and I don’t even need the shoes because they are too big for me’, so I offered to give them to the man because it was the only thing stopping him from going home.

“I didn’t expect any of this attention.

“It was just a random act of kindness because I could help. They were a modest pair of shoes from Matalan which I had in my desk drawer because of the weather and they were too big for me.

“I never expected anything more to come of it but then a picture of the shoes and the story was posted on social media and it seems to have caught everyone’s imagination.”

A nurse photographed the shoes on collecting them from David’s desk and posted it on Twitter.

Frank, said: “They’ve looked after me like royalty here but I’m really pleased to be going home.

“I am planning to give the shoes to charity as soon as I can because they are a bit posh for me. But, I want someone else to be able to benefit from them.”

North Middlesex University Hospital averages 500 patients a day, rising to 599 patients and 130 ambulances since Christmas.

The demand for beds is high.

Senior managers have joined frontline staff to help improve patient flow and discharge since New Year.

Maria Kane, North Middlesex University Hospital chief executive, said: “We’re delighted to have helped Frank to get home.

“David’s act is one of the many small acts of great kindness our staff do every day to help our patients.

“I’m very proud of them.”