Health staff welcomed the chief executive of NHS Scotland and director of health and social care on a visit to Wishaw General.
Caroline Lamb was appointed to her new role in January 2021 and met with staff to hear about the challenges they have faced over the last two years since the start of the pandemic.
She was also visiting to offer her personal thanks to staff across health and social care for their unstinting dedication, professionalism and hard work through what has been the most challenging two years in the history of the NHS.
Ms Lamb met a range of staff from both health and social care as she visited a number of different departments across the hospital.
She told Lanarkshire Live : “NHS and social care staff have been dealing with a challenge beyond any of our imaginations for the last two years and are still dealing with COVID cases.
“I am at University Hospital Wishaw to meet with colleagues from NHS Lanarkshire and staff from both North and South Health and Social Care Partnerships to hear about the challenges they have faced over the last two years.
“I would like to offer my thanks for all the ongoing fantastic work and flexibility shown by health and social care staff across Lanarkshire.
"From the staff in our hospitals to those in the community including GPs who have continued to prioritise urgent care for Lanarkshire’s most vulnerable residents.
“I know sustained demands on health and social care services across Lanarkshire has meant everyone has been working exceptionally hard to ensure the highest standards of care and support have continued over the last two years.
“It’s been a truly difficult time for everyone delivering health and social care while also keeping themselves, their loved ones and local residents safe.
“I am grateful to each and every individual for their exceptional efforts in providing the safest and most robust services possible.”
Ms Lamb met staff from accident and emergency, paediatrics, the medical receiving unit and North Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership during her visit.
Julie Coyle, senior nurse emergency, Wishaw General, said: “It has been an extremely difficult time and we are not out of the woods yet as we are still dealing with COVID patients as well as treating patients with other serious conditions.
“Staff are working hard to ensure every patient gets the care and treatment they need in very challenging circumstances and staff appreciate the chief executive of NHS Scotland taking time to visit and listen to the issues that have affected them over the last two years.”
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