Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Tory councillors oppose
Plans for Gartcosh move
Airdrie’s Conservative councillors have expressed their opposition to Gartcosh as the potential new location for Monklands Hospital.
David Cullen, Trevor Douglas and Sandy Watson, who respectively represent the town’s North, Central and South wards, say that NHS Lanarkshire’s identified option “would not be the most appropriate site”.
Last month, the Advertiser told how Gartcosh’s former steelworks site topped an options appraisal exercise carried out by a health board panel to determine where the rebuilt hospital should be located – finishing ahead of shortlisted alternative Glenmavis or the current site at Monkscourt Avenue.
The Conservative trio said: “We agree that Gartcosh, in our opinion, would not be the most appropriate site for the residents of Monklands – we feel that any new build must be within the Airdrie area. While we accept that it is for NHS Lanarkshire and the integrated joint board to decide the location, we will endeavour to market Airdrie and its surrounding villages as the only home of University Hospital Monklands.”
Airdrie’s SNP parliamentarians also criticised the announcement of Gartcosh as the top choice, with Mr Gray describing the location issue as “an absolute red line” and Alex Neil MSP, the former health secretary, saying: “I don’t believe it’s the right location for a new hospital and don’t believe that will be acceptable to the people of Monklands.”
Health board officials stress that no decision on the hospital has yet been made, saying: “Before a preferred option can be identified, further work will need to be completed” – including financial analysis and a public consultation which is due to begin later this month, ahead of a formal recommendation going to board members this autumn.