Even the NHS must be held to account for their actions.

You’re forgiven if we’ve given you a mild case of whiplash - just a couple of weeks ago, we praised NHS frontline workers to the high heavens in this column.

We recently held our Wiltshire Health and Social Care Awards celebrating the outstanding work of doctors, nurses, nursing home carers and support staff during this long pandemic.

We had noticed focus on the achievements of these many selfless souls dissipated somewhat as we transitioned from doorstep claps to trying to return to everyday life, and we wanted to do something about it.

Health staff are working harder than ever to deliver the highly impressive full-population vaccination programme.

We still believe these people deserve every praise - and we will take any opportunity to do so.

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But we could not agree when it was suggested this week that we shouldn’t go forward with a negative health story because NHS staff are still working flat out.

As a regional newspaper it is our job to report on important local issues - both good and bad.

The NHS is a big and multi-faceted organisation and it is never going to get it right all the time.

However, we would be failing in our duty if we turned a blind eye to genuine concerns or individual suffering in order to maintain a positive narrative of NHS heroes.

When we report on legitimate issues - we are in no way rubbishing the entire NHS.

We are not detracting from the individual actions of staff - who apart from a rare bad apple - are incredibly dedicated and worthy people.

We are highlighting often a structural issue that deserves scrutiny and letting desperate people’s voices be heard.

However much we love the NHS, you can’t ask us to stop doing that. It would be a serious failure in our duty.