Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Losing patience
favour of Gartcosh” in relation to deprivation data and a lack of information on Airdrie, site contamination details and accessibility, especially by public transport.
They also criticised the running of the event, including “serious confusion” among participants over the scoring process, questioning the mix of those in attendance and who took part in the scoring to ensure a majority of members of the public, and disputing the high score achieved by Gartcosh.
Par ty colleague Mr MacGregor also welcomed the health board’s decision to re-run the scoring, noting he had also been contacted by “several constituents who relayed concerns, including the electronic equipment failing and participants not being present for the verification of votes”, saying: “I will take these to NHS Lanarkshire for a response.”
He said of the outcome: “Gartcosh scoring highest again is not a final decision and only serves to provide further information to the board in making a decision over a preferred site.
“I have already said, and will state again, that I will accept the final decision of the cabinet secretary on this issue, and will then go about ensuring the proper transport links are in place to the new site for 2027, and help lead the discussion about what services can go onto the current site – something
I have consistently fought for.” He told the Advertiser ahead of the scoring: “My own view is that the selected site of the new hospital is academic in terms of how we address healthcare needs in the modern day, with more focus on care in the community.
“Coatbridge & Chryston is uniquely placed in this debate as each site has pros and cons for different areas in my constituency and some constituents have told me none of the three sites are ideally located, while some have told me that they are
Fulton MacGregor MSP relaxed about any of the sites.
“Given that there is no obvious preference, and to represent my constituents’ wishes fully, it is incumbent on me not to advocate for a preferred site and regardless of where the new hospital goes, I will continue to push for a full and modern health facility for the Northern Corridor.
“NHS Lanarkshire have committed to the recommendation to make use of the current site, and this could be a key aspect in everyone moving forward once the location has been selected. It means that the people of Monklands can get the best of both worlds; a new hospital and something on the current site which tackles the health needs of this area.”