'There is sometimes concern that being seen to celebrate success is akin to bad taste when there are so many pressures in the system and on individuals'

We of little faith. We worried that this year would be a difficult one for the HSJ Awards. We thought that after a number of strong years, the myriad pressures that have faced the service in the past 12 months would begin to tell - that the number of entries would slump.

There is sometimes concern that being seen to celebrate success is akin to bad taste when there are so many pressures in the system and on individuals.

We were wrong. In fact we were flattered to see that we had more entries than last year - over 900 across 18 categories. We extend our congratulations to them - even getting this far is a major achievement.

But the bigger story is that so many people in so many organisations turned up for the game at all. It is testimony to the confidence that still shines strongly inside individuals and teams despite - and in some cases because of - the challenges they face.

They recognise that celebrating achievement is even more important when organisations seem beset by problems. Many of the entries that did not make the shortlist are nevertheless excellent pieces of work, and HSJwill be contacting the organisations to help to spread their good practice more widely.

We hope to see many of you at what promises to be our biggest ever awards night in London on 30 November.