Calls for new assurances on orthopaedics

A trio of parliamentarians have called for new health board assurances over plans to change trauma and orthopaedic services at Monklands Hospital.

Constituency MSPs Alex Neil and Fulton MacGregor and Neil Gray MP are demanding that “all orthopaedic patients are first seen and assessed in Monklands”.

NHS Lanarkshire will move that service out of Monklands next month and concentrate it at Wishaw and Hairmyres; as an interim measure ahead of centralising trauma at Wishaw with elective surgery to be at either Monklands or Hairmyres.

They also want to see the introduction of a bus service between hospitals before the plans are put in place, and a commitment that the long-term elective location will be at a rebuilt Monklands Hospital, intended to be built by 2023.

The SNP politicians say they want to ensure “that all orthopaedic patients from [this] area are first seen and assessed in Monklands Hospital and then only transferred if specialist care is needed ... [which] would underline the commitment of the Scottish Government to keeping the hospital and its A&E department grade-one facilities”.

Mr Neil, the Airdrie & Shotts MSP, told the Advertiser: “At the moment, the heart centre [for Lanarkshire] is at Hairmyres – but if someone has a heart attack in Airdrie, they’re taken first to A&E at Monklands to see if they need to be transferred.

“It should follow a similar pattern with orthopaedics during this interim period while that specialism isn’t there at Monklands; this is about dealing with the concerns that people have.

“Staff and patients have also raised the transport issue, which is most important – even without the temporary changes, we still need far better transport between the three hospitals as it can take two hours on the bus.

“The consultation document on the healthcare strategy also states a presumption in favour of the single trauma unit being at Wishaw, so I don’t why there can’t be a similar statement about elective surgery being at the new Monklands Hospital in the long term.”

Mr Neil also welcomed news that Monklands’ emergency department is to be expanded, with the introduction of a consultant-led rapid assessment team via a £700,000 investment.

He said:“This shows the continued significant investment in Monklands Hospital.

“These funds will allow the A&E department to continue the excellent care provided to the people of Monklands on a daily basis.”