Fast, compassionate and life-changing — the work of the Addiction Recovery Team in North Lanarkshire has earned them a place as a finalist in the 2025 NHS Lanarkshire Staff Awards.
By embedding the Scottish Government’s Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) standards into everyday practice, the team has transformed what was once a slow and complex system into one that offers urgent, person-centred care. Today, 81 per cent of people referred to the Urgent Response Team begin treatment within 24 hours — a dramatic shift that puts dignity, choice and safety at the heart of recovery.
Patients now have more control over their treatment, with a range of medication options and tailored support. Retention is up, risks are identified faster, and drug-related deaths have dropped by 60 per cent in just a year — powerful proof that lives are being saved.
Their success is rooted in quality, teamwork and an unwavering belief in second chances.
