Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Former health minister brands hospital consultation ’a stitch-up’
A 6000-signature petition calls for the new hospital to remain in “central Monklands”.
It was sent to NHS Lanarkshire by Neil Gray MP and Alex Neil MSP.
The politicians also submitted a 14- page consultation response outlining their objections, entitled ‘Gartcosh is a non-starter’.
In a scathing attack, former health secretary Mr Neil said: “We must ensure that Gartcosh gets the kybosh.
“I don’t know of one MP or MSP from North Lanarkshire who agrees with siting the new hospital in Gartcosh. Public opinion is absolutely opposed to this crazy idea, including a lot of people who live in Gartcosh.
“We now need a completely independent review. £600 million is too much money to waste on the wrong site.”
Mr Gray added: “We all want to see a new hospital but it is clear a move to Gartcosh would be based on flawed information and not public support.
“The board needs to be properly informed before they take their decision and I’m sure when all the facts are presented Gartcosh will be off the table.”
The former Gartcosh steelworks emerged top of a health board options appraisal, ahead of the alternative location at Glenmavis. A three-month public consultation on the plan ended on Monday.
The Airdrie politicians’ submission calls the scoring process “deeply flawed” and “biased”, accuses the health board of presenting inaccurate and misleading information, and says “participants were picked to give the answer NHS Lanarkshire wanted”.
It contends that the appraisal panel had too many employees and insufficient numbers of patients and residents and adds: “The public consultation meetings were a stitch-up from start to finish”.
Mr Neil and Mr Gray dispute the stated travel times, saying: “The public made it clear that they regard them as fanciful.”
They also say Gartcosh would require major road investment, while its rail line does not serve Airdrie and Coatbridge.
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard has sent in a separate 5000-signature petition in support of keeping the hospital on its current site.
Mr Leonard recently attended a meeting of the Airdrie & Shotts constituency party, where members unanimously agreed to “reject outright the proposal to build the new hospital at Gartcosh”.
He told the Advertiser: “We need the Scottish Government and the health board to rise to the challenge and recognise that their consultation has failed to persuade people of the case for the Monklands to be moved out of Airdrie.
“A new hospital on the existing site is by far the best of the options available.
“It keeps hospital services exactly where they should be: in the heart of the community and accessible to local people.
“It retains a massive employer in Airdrie, where we need jobs, and it safeguards the Maggie’s Centre and the Beatson.”
The health board’s Colin Lauder said: “NHS Lanarkshire will fully take account of all views and suggestions made during the consultation.
“The board will receive a thematic analysis of public responses and will also have access to all public submissions.”
He added: “Public/patient participants were selected by the health and social care partnerships. Scorers included 11 patients, public and carers from organisations within the catchment area.
“For selection of staff participants an internal exercise was undertaken to ensure appropriate representation from clinicians and people responsible for the delivery of the service.
“All used their professional knowledge and judgement to score the options.
“Health boards are not able to move to consultation until they have confirmation from the Scottish Health Council that public involvement has been in accordance with Scottish Government guidance. NHS Lanarkshire received this following option appraisal.
“Journey time information was calculated by our external advisers using specialist transport data system TRACC in conjunction with the most recent census data and relates to weekday morning peak.”
I am not prepared to stand back and have my land tarnished