The week began with the good news that Pauline Cafferkey’s condition had improved. Our thoughts go out to Pauline and her family at this time and we hope she makes a full and swift recovery.

It is fantastic news that seven Lanarkshire health workers and a Wishaw healthcare team have been selected as finalists at the Scottish Health Awards 2015.

The full list of Lanarkshire finalists includes:

• The respiratory nurse team at Wishaw General Hospital for the care for Long-Term Illness Award
• Sinead Kelly, staff nurse at Wishaw General Hospital for the Quality Champion of the Year Award
• Surinder Singh, porter at Hairmyres Hospital for the Unsung Hero Award
• Jane Miller, highly specialist paediatric physiotherapist for the Therapist Award
• Gillian Corbett, chief of nursing services at Wishaw General Hospital for the Leading and Managing for Quality Award
• Roger Levie, dentist at Levie Dental Practice for the Dentist Award
• Andrew Pender, senior nurse at Wishaw General Hospital, for the Nurse Award

All nominees fought off stiff competition from across the country to secure their place at this year’s glittering award ceremony in November.

Every year, the Scottish Health Awards recognise and reward the dedicated NHS staff, support workers, volunteers and specialist teams who go the extra mile to provide outstanding patient care.

This is at a time when the Audit Scotland annual report into the NHS in Scotland reveals that ‘the SNP Government have cut spending and failed to meet key targets and warns that patients will not be able to rely on the health service unless urgent action is taken’.

An inquiry by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman found that a patient experienced delays in receiving treatment for cancer because of a row over where she should be treated. No plans were made for her surgery at either Monklands Hospital or the former Southern General for several weeks until the patient followed it up repeatedly. We have written to the patient directly to offer a sincere and unreserved apology for the failings on our part and for the distress these undoubtedly caused. We are currently undertaking a joint significant event analysis with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to avoid similar incidents in the future

Inspirational TV star Katie Piper visited Monklands Hospital as part of a documentary to highlight the great care provided by the hospital’s staff. Staying with Monklands, many papers picked up the stories where local people have secured apprenticeships or employment as part of the £19 million intensive care unit and upgrading of operating theatres.