WORKING FOR YOU Have your say on hospital location

In my previous Advertiser column last month I spoke at great length about the proposed new Monklands Hospital, and I make no apologies for doing the same this time around.

At the present time, as a number of you know, Neil Gray MP and Alex Neil MSP have a petition up and running to keep the hospital in the Monklands area; and Gartcosh certainly does not come into that equation.

So far we have been out in the town centre and also knocking on doors; and will continue to do so.

We have a great number of signatures already and are determined to get many more to show NHS Lanarkshire that local people say Monklands Hospital must stay in the Central Monklands area.

It would appear NHS Lanarkshire are determined the hospital will be relocated to Gartcosh come what may, so please come along to Airdrie town hall on September 13 and make the health board members aware of your feelings.

It would be helpful if you can also take part in the consultation and make your feelings known; you can do this online or by writing to NHS Lanarkshire.

Please come along and challenge them on their comments, such as the view it will take 13 years to build a new hospital on the current site at Monkscourt Avenue.

How long did it take to build the new Queen Elizabeth in Glasgow on the original site there?

There also seems to be a certain amount of negativity from NHS Lanarkshire toward the site outside Glenmavis, despite the land gift from Mr Ronnie Bartlett.

There is no doubt, because of their obsession with Gartcosh, they seem to be playing down the gifted land.

There has also been very little mention, if any at all, of the new Pan Orbital road from the M74 to Stand which has agreed funding, and will be there about the same time as the hospital.

There are also great efforts being made to secure funding for extending this road to Auchenkilns at Cumbernauld. Why aren’t the general public hearing about this from NHS Lanarkshire?

Make sure you ask them about it at the upcoming meeting in Airdrie town hall on September 13.

I also don’t believe their project team have looked very seriously at the roads issue.

Have they, for instance, attempted to drive from the Red Bridge roundabout in Coatbridge through Glenboig over to Gartcosh? Do they know a great number of people would have to travel that way?

Could the Gartcosh Interchange cope with the extra traffic?

Have they seriously taken these points into consideration?

Have they also taken into consideration the staff who arrive very early in the morning and the others who leave late at night?

Have they thought about staff, patients and visitors who have to rely on public transport?

I would urge you to do so as much as possible to help this campaign. Your Monklands Hospital is under as much threat as it’s ever been, so please at least sign the petition and take part in the consultation. If you can help by taking part in getting petitions signed, please contact Neil Gray MP.

The campaign to keep the hospital in this area is above politics, so I would hope we can all keep it that way and show NHS Lanarkshire a united front against moving our hospital.

I would like to end this column by congratulating Airdrie Central bowlers on winning the Scottish over-55s title at Ayr recently.

Speaking as someone who really enjoys bowls, I was delighted. I wish them all the best at the British Isles Championships next year.

Come along to Airdrie town hall on September 13 and make the health board members aware of your feelings

Gesture Airdrie businessman Ronnie Bartlett has offered to donate land at Glenmavis for the construction of a new Monklands Hospital