Anticipation is growing about the opening of the new Lanarkshire Beatson cancer treatment centre at Monklands Hospital. The big day at the end of this month was previewed by the Evening Times and the Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser.

We ran a special bowel cancer screening awareness drive in Airdrie this week, with the help of our bowel screening champions. That resulted in a page of positive coverage in the Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser, featuring a news story about the campaign and a case study about one of the champions.

A public tasting session offering a flavour of the meals served on the wards at Hairmyres resulted in plenty of positive comment from the people who sampled the food. That was highlighted in the East Kilbride News and the Hamilton Advertiser.

The annual report from NHS Lanarkshire’s director of public health has been published, showing a healthy improvement. The good news was reflected in the Motherwell Times and the Cumbernauld News.

Meanwhile, the Evening Times reported NHS Lanarkshire has pledged more support for people who are deaf or suffering hearing loss. 

On the negative side, the Wishaw Press told how a woman criticised NHS Lanarkshire after waiting seven hours at Wishaw General A&E with her nine-month-old baby, who was struggling to breathe. 

The same paper said the new £23m Houldsworth Centre has come under fire from a community leader, who claims that many elderly residents are deciding not to make appointments to see their GP because doctors’ surgeries are located on the third floor. Graham Johnston, head of management services, said a consultation exercise was undertaken about the location of the GP surgeries and the centre has lifts to help patients get to the third floor.