Consultation opens on new hospital plan

The public consultation seeking views on the potential relocation of Monklands Hospital to Gartcosh is now underway.

NHS Lanarkshire has launched its consultation documents and website at www.monklands.scot.nhs. uk, and is asking residents to share their views by October 15.

It will also feature eight public meetings across the health board area – including at 101 Park Street in Coatbridge on September 4 and Sir John Wilson town hall in Airdrie on September 13, both at 6.30pm.

The Advertiser told last month how constructing a new hospital at the former steelworks site in Gartcosh had emerged as the top-scoring option at an appraisal event, ahead of Drumshangie Moss in Glenmavis and the current Monkscourt Avenue location.

Gartcosh has since been confirmed as the leading option after financial analysis of the various proposals.

Monklands replacement/ refurbishment project clinical lead Dr Jim Ruddy said:“The consultation is another step forward in realising our vision of a hospital that can deliver care and treatment in the most ideal way in the future.

“A new hospital at Gartcosh could address the healthcare challenges created by the ageing population of Lanarkshire and would be the same dedicated staff and hospital community we all know, less than three miles away.

“The current site doesn’t have the space or flexibility to fully deliver our clinical blueprint – which requires a hospital with a very large ground floor to allow specialist departments to be next to each other to improve the patient journey.”

Project director Graeme Reid said:“This is a fantastic opportunity to build a state-of-the-art facility to serve patients for decades to come, and we’re urging as many people as possible to take part in the consultation.

“The document explains the difficulties if we tried to put a new-build hospital on the existing site, with significant disruption for 13 years. A new hospital at Gartcosh would have ample bus services, more parking, and is the most favourable option for journey times by car.”

NHS Lanarkshire’s board will consider the results and decide on a preferred option for Monklands in November.