Jackie Tudhope, scooped the Support Worker Award at this year’s Scottish Annual Health Awards.

Jackie, who is a nursing assistant in the emergency care unit at Wishaw General Hospital, said: “I am absolutely delighted. I got into nursing by being a domestic and the charge nurse said to me, ‘Do you not think you should go in for the auxiliary nurse position?’.

“I originally said no but went for it in the end and here I am 20 years later.”

Jackie assists patients with diet and also takes in home baking as a treat for those with no visitors.

Her caring nature brings so much more to patients, many of whom have benefited from the hairdressing skills Jackie learned as a young lady.

Tom Delaney, senior charge nurse, said: “Jackie conducts herself in a polite, professional and courteous manner at all times.

“She always has a smile on her face which rubs off on others and puts patients at ease.”

Jackie added: “Making a difference to patients makes you feel really good, if they are happy then I am happy.”

Eight nominees from NHS Lanarkshire were shortlisted as finalists at the awards.

• The respiratory nurse team for Care for Long-Term Illness

• Sinead Kelly, staff nurse at Wishaw General Hospital, for Quality Champion of the Year
• Surinder Singh, porter at Hairmyres Hospital for Unsung Hero
• Jane Miller, highly specialist paediatric physiotherapist for Therapist award
• Gillian Corbett, chief nurse at Wishaw General Hospital, for Leading and Managing for Quality
• Roger Levie, dentist, for Dentist award
• Andrew Pender, senior nurse at Wishaw General Hospital, for the Nurse award