Leonard fears hospital sale for housing

Fears have been raised that health chiefs are using a controversial hospital relocation plan to cash in on selling land for housing.

NHS Lanarkshire is looking to either replace or refurbish Monklands Hospital in Airdrie – with a new facility at Gartcosh having emerged as a leading option.

The board’s decision-making process came under scrutiny in Holyrood last week amid fears the new location will be worse for patients.

Now Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard has raised fears that the health board are not keen to redevelop the existing site as it is more valuable to them for selling off for housing.

He said: “The needs of the people of Monklands should supersede the profit margins of property developers.

“Closing the hospital and relocating services to the village of Gartcosh, which is ill-served by public transport, would hurt working people across the Monklands.”

Mental health minister, Clare Haughey, told MSPs that a final decision had not been taken and all options were being considered by the health board.

NHS Lanarkshire has rejected claims that the consultation process has been biased towards Gartcosh.

Colin Lauder, director of planning, property and performance, has previoulsy said: “Our only interest is to find the best possible site for the future University Hospital Monklands.”