Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Review of hospital consultation is set
Health secretary orders examination of process
An independent review into the process surrounding the new Monklands Hospital has been ordered by health secretary Jeane Freeman.
She made the announcement after discussions with board chair Neena Mahal and chief executive Calum Campbell, and following a Holyrood debate which saw politicians express concerns about the process.
The health board announced in June that constructing a new-build hospital at the former steelworks site in Gartcosh was top of an options appraisal; but residents and politicians dispute information such as travel times and site suitability, and criticised the series of public meetings.
NHS Scotland chief executive Paul Gray will set up the review, “to provide an independent assessment of the process, including whether it has been consistent with best practice and meaningfully informed by the views of stakeholders”.
Its head, remit and timeframe is to be announced “as soon as possible”.
Airdrie MSP Alex Neil, himself a former health secretary, welcomed the review and says he thinks it will “finally kill off Gartcosh as an option”.
He told the Advertiser: “I hope this will now seal matters in favour of Glenmavis – the hospital has to be in the central Monklands area.
“We want to get the proposed new hospital to as advanced a stage as it can be, but the assumptions made, such as the impact of the [planned] new bypass road which has been ignored, have to be looked at and challenged, along with costs and the impact of moving to Gartcosh or other sites.
“We’ve had common sense from the health secretary and now I hope we’ll get common sense all round. The health board needs to listen to people and get its fingers out of its ears.”
Constituency colleague Neil Gray MP added: “Gartcosh isn’t a feasible option and there needs to be a discussion on how NHS Lanarkshire arrived at that, and the facts and figures used.
“I hope the review will include discussions with local elected representatives and the public; we need to make sure public opinion is taken into account.”
Labour leader Richard Leonard – who is campaigning for a rebuilt hospital on the current site – also hailed the review, saying: “This is a welcome step forward, and a sign that finally the SNP government is listening to the clear concerns of local people.
“They want Monklands Hospital to stay in the Monklands community. More than 5000 people have signed my petition to stop this disastrous decision from being taken by the health board.
“Closing the hospital and relocating services to an area of North Lanarkshire which is ill-served by public transport would hurt people across Monklands.”
Ms Freeman said: “The Scottish Government is committed to the replacement or refurbishment of University Hospital Monklands.
“However, I have noted the concerns raised over the quality of information and analysis, and the robustness and accuracy of the options appraisal evidence. To retain public confidence in this process, it is important that these concerns are properly considered.”
NHS Lanarkshire board chair Neena Mahal said: “It’s important that our stakeholders have confidence in the process and the outcome – we therefore welcome an independent review and look forward to progressing this muchneeded facility as soon as possible.
“NHS Lanarkshire is awaiting details of the scope, timescale and leadership of this review.”
To retain public confidence, it is important that these concerns are properly considered