HEALTH stories are never far from the headlines. From cleanliness to staff safety, it seems as though the NHS is never out of the news.

As a community newspaper, it is our responsibility to report on all aspects of our health service, both good and bad.

Of course, we would much rather draw attention to those parts of the NHS that are worthy of praise - but, sadly, that is not always possible.

However, today it is. We are glad to join others in heaping praise on our healthcare workers, for their sterling efforts in reducing waiting times at Worcestershire's hospitals.

When a lot of NHS trusts are struggling to even meet Government waiting list targets, the announcement that Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is on course to slash those times by a third, is welcome indeed.

A spokesman has put this down to the "enormous amount of hard work by staff" at the three hospitals.

Well done to them.

It is equally welcome to hear the comments of Health Minister Dr Stephen Ladyman during his visit to the new Henwick Halt Medical Centre, in Worcester, yesterday.

To describe it is "the best quality clinic that I've seen" is a tribute to the huge efforts put in by those who backed our Save Our Surgeries campaign to ensure this, and seven other, medical centres were built or upgraded in the face of funding changes.

Let's hope the others live up to the same standard.