Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
NHS attacked over hospital site costs
The Airdrie businessman offering to donate 40 acres for a new Monklands Hospital accused NHS Lanarkshire of “tarnishing” his land.
Ronnie Bartlett objected to its multi- million-pound cost estimates for preparing the Glenmavis site for construction.
He said figures published by the health board are overstated and has supplied an assessment from his own adviser that they appear “heavily prejudicial against your site”.
NHS Lanarkshire removed the report concerned from the Monklands redevelopment website after Mr Bartlett wrote to chief executive Calum Campbell and board chair and vice-chair Neena Mahal and Philip Campbell.
Mr Bartlett told the Advertiser: “I have provided the NHS with a report from leading consultants who have actually surveyed the land and who know its exact make-up.
“This paints a very different picture to what they and their advisers assert and I have asked them to include this factual report in their consultation.
“I have stayed out of the public debate, despite my misgivings about the decisionmaking process, but I am not prepared to stand back and have my land tarnished by a report from individuals who have never set foot on it.”
Airdrie MSP Alex Neil said the intervention is “dynamite” and shows “the information the health board has provided is riddled with inaccuracies, misinformation and falsehoods”.
Health board officials told a public meeting in Airdrie that £ 10 million has been allowed for site remediation at Glenmavis, compared to £6.2m for Gartcosh.
They gave more information on the calculations last week, ahead of Monday’s consultation end.
Mr Bartlett responded by submitting an analysis from his geo-environmental consultants which sets out why mine stabilisation, contamination and and other required ground treatments should not reach that figure.
It reads: “It seems that the costs have been based on desk study analyses. I have particular knowledge of the Monklands area and the site in particular and, having reviewed the costs suggested, do not believe that they are an accurate reflection of the conditions.”
Mr Bartlett told the Advertiser: “I was happy to offer my land to the NHS for a new Monklands Hospital as the public in this area have had a local hospital for over 40 years and I would like to see that continue.
“My offer of land remains and I am prepared to work with the NHS to deliver a world- class hospital for the Monklands public.”
Mr Neil said: “These letters have exposed just how off the mark the figures for Gartcosh and Glenmavis are.
“It is staring everyone in the face that Gartcosh is the worst possible site for the new hospital. I think the health board is in for a big shock as people power forces a complete rethink.
“To go ahead with Gartcosh would not only be a democratic outrage. It would be disastrous for the health service in Lanarkshire. It is just not acceptable.”
Health board director of planning Colin Lauder said: “NHS Lanarkshire required our technical advisors to undertake an assessment of the land as part of the option appraisal process. This was done by our lead advisers and there was no intent to discredit or tarnish the land by publishing the report.
“It was published following a request from the Scottish Health Council to provide additional information to the public as part of the consultation. Mr Bartlett asked us to remove the report from the website and we complied with this.
“Decontamination costs were calculated by an environmental consultancy which has extensive experience of similar healthcare projects.
“As part of externally validating information to be presented to the board we asked one of our lead professional advisers for a further view, which advised agreement with the existing study in that Glenmavis would be the more expensive site to investigate and potentially remediate.”
He added: “The letter from Mr Bartlett’s advisers will be fully taken into account as part of the consultation process.”