Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
WORKING FOR YOU Consultation has been a farce
I am sure you will be aware by now that public consultation is now underway on the NHS Lanarkshire proposals to relocate University Monklands Hospital to Gartcosh.
I mention the word consultation, but there is no doubt that so far this has been an absolute farce; and at the moment I am not confident the situation will improve.
The people of Airdrie and Coatbridge must have the biggest say on the various options if the new hospital has to be built away from the current site – not the people of Cambuslang, East Kilbride, or Carluke, three areas on the current consultation list.
My personal opinion is that if it has to be in another location, it must remain in the central Airdrie and Coatbridge area – and certainly not Gartcosh.
The board claim that if Gartcosh were to be selected, transport links would be at least as good as they are at present.
But we know how poor they are at the moment from various areas to the three hospitals in the board area; so it cannot be guaranteed there will be any difference if Gartcosh is the chosen location.
Although constituents of mine are well aware I will have no part in the final decision, they are still giving me their thoughts and opinions, and I have yet to speak to anyone who believes it is a good idea.
They are also unhappy at the cost it will require for visitors who don’t have cars to travel to Gartcosh; and we all know how important visitors can be in the recovery of their loved ones.
Another question which was put to me concerned the staff, who may well be offered alternative employment but may not have a car, so would struggle to get there.
If it isn’t possible to withdraw this consultation and start again, I would urge as many people as possible to attend the public meetings in Airdrie and Coatbridge and make their feelings known.
It is important they take part in the consultation. I also believe this is above politics, so it would be nice to see some cross-party support against what would appear to be NHS Lanarkshire’s preferred option – perhaps their only one.
A few weeks ago my colleagues and I were invited to Ravenscraig for the launch of the Football Club Suicide Prevention Partnership.
There were players from Airdrieonians, Albion Rovers, Clyde and Motherwell in attendance.
We then listened to speeches from some of the representatives and watched an emotional film made by Motherwell FC with comments from players and managers about the launch.
It is great to see the clubs getting involved in this scheme; they have also agreed to have the suicide prevention logo on the back of their strips this season and prominent suicide prevention messages will be displayed in their stadiums.
Let’s hope initiatives such as this can do something about the all too many suicide deaths in North Lanarkshire.
Well done to the clubs for getting involved, and many thanks to the managers and staff in North Lanarkshire for organising it.
It would be nice to see some cross-party support against what would appear to be NHS Lanarkshire’s preferred option