Petitions on hospital

Dear Editor,

It seems quite clear that the preferred location for the new Monklands Hospital is Gartcosh, despite it not even being near Monklands.

The recent consultations were more of a sales pitch than anything; the problem is, no-one wanted to buy it.

The vast majority of journeys to the hospital are by car, that’s undeniable.

Most are made by patients and their families, yet the hospital is being relocated to Gartcosh because it has a rail link for staff to get to work. This really is a case of the tail wagging the dog!

What disappoints me the most about this debacle is that the area’s two main political parties seem more interested in playing the blame game than coming together on an issue where they by and large agree.

Both have issued petitions; the SNP against the health board, Labour against the Scottish Government.

Labour’s Scottish leader, Richard Leonard, wants to keep the present site, while the SNP campaign to keep it in Monklands. Bizarrely, the Labour candidate in the Coatbridge by-election is also campaigning, like the SNP, to keep it in Monklands.

Confused yet? Our politicians certainly are! As for the Conservatives, if anyone knows their opinion, do let me know, as I don’t seem to be able to find it.

James Cassidy, via email