Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
MSPs debate hospital future
Patients must be involved in decision
The debate over the future location of Monklands Hospital reached the Scottish Parliament as politicians from all parties had their say on a proposed move to Gartcosh.
Local MSPs spoke out against the topscoring option, with SNP constituency members calling for the controversial options appraisal process to be re-run and Labour members backing a new building on the current site.
Concerns about Gartcosh and about the public consultation exercise were raised by speakers from all five parties and minister Clare Haughey announced that NHS Lanarkshire is being asked about “further analysis and engagement with stakeholders to explore the concerns that have been raised”.
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard initiated the Holyrood debate with a motion insisting that “a replacement for the current University Hospital Monklands should be built in Monklands”.
It gained the support of Liberal Democrats but was defeated 94- 26 after the SNP, Greens and Conservatives supported an amendment specifying “that any decision on location must take full account of the views of patients who will be served by the new hospital”.
Mr Leonard told MSPs: “We are forced to bring this motion because we fear that a great injustice might be served on the people of Lanarkshire, which would be felt for generations to come.”
He questioned the options appraisal, asking what consultation there had been of “porters, domestics, catering workers, patients and carers”, and said: “The people of Lanarkshire have been neither meaningfully engaged nor genuinely consulted.
“There has been nothing less than a cynical attempt to railroad through the board’s preferred option of relocating to Gartcosh in the teeth of widespread public opposition.”
Central Scotland colleague Elaine Smith agreed: “Sufficient weight has not been given to the concerns of local people. The whole process has been flawed from the start, with NHS Lanarkshire heavily promoting its preferred option of building at Gartcosh.
“People of Monklands are deeply concerned about losing local hospital provision in the heart of our community. It’s time for Parliament to step in and show support.
“A newer, substantially upgraded hospital is needed but it should be on the current site.”
Mr Leonard, who collected 5000 petition signatures supporting a rebuild at the current site, told the Advertiser: “People in Monklands are angry over plans to relocate to a totally different site in Gartcosh.
“The petition calls on the health minister to stop this disastrous decision from being taken by the NHS Lanarkshire board. Relocating to an area ill-served by public transport and further from principal population centres would hurt working people across Monklands.”
Alex Neil, the Airdrie & Shotts MSP, hit out at “a stupid decision by NHS Lanarkshire to make Gartcosh the preferred site for the new hospital”.
The former health secretary said the options appraisal included insufficient patients and Monklands residents, adding: “The board then had the cheek to say it has stuck to the process laid down by the Government . There is no way that it has.
“NHS Lanarkshire is not listening. It would be a betrayal of the people of the Monklands area if Gartcosh were to become the site for the new hospital.
“Scoring was rigged to get the answer that the health board wanted. Information was inaccurate, misleading and unbalanced.
“It’s time for an independent review of the process and decision, which cannot be allowed to stand.”
Coatbridge MSP Fulton MacGregor said: “Removing a well-established hospital from an area that has such health inequalities could be regarded as a hammer blow to those communities.
“The hospital needs to serve Monklands and the board has a duty to instil confidence that that will be the case. There was weighting of Gartcosh and should have been more information on other Monklands sites, for example at Gartsherrie and the current site’s many positives.
“It would be best to start again and consider all the options, including looking again at Gartcosh, while dealing with the concerns that have been raised.”
Watching from the Holyrood gallery was Neil Gray, the Airdrie MP, who joined forces with Mr Neil to collect 6000 signatures on a petition supporting alternative site Glenmavis.
He said: “The relocation of Monklands Hospital is a huge local issue and almost every MSP was united in the fact that Gartcosh was not suitable for a Lanarkshirebased facility.
“Successive MSPs voiced concerns about NHS Lanarkshire’s proposal. Alex Neil and Fulton McGregor spoke with authority.
“We will continue to fight for the people of Airdrie and& Shotts and beyond who are so vehemently opposed to this move.”
Central Scotland Conservative member Alison Harris favoured a new site but said Gartcosh “could benefit the people of Glasgow but be a huge disadvantage to people who live in Monklands area”.
She said Glenmavis is “more central and would keep the hospital within the heart of the community. That is a serious alternative and one that I urge the health board to consider.”
Responding for the Scottish Government, mental health minister Clare Haughey said: “I recognise the strength of feeling in the Airdrie community about the future access to and provision of hospital services.
“No final decision has been taken by the board on the preferred option for a new or refurbished Monklands hospital. NHS Lanarkshire has assured us that it will carefully consider all consultation responses and rigorously evaluate all the options.
“Ministers have noted the concerns raised.”
Itwouldbebest to start again and consider all the options Fulton MacGregor