Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Talking Politics Moving hospital would be bad for our health
I was pleased to have the opportunity to take the fight to keep our hospital local to the debating chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
The Labour Party put forward a straightforward motion that would ensure any replacement Monklands Hospital would be built in Monklands.
The SNP joined forces with the Tories and voted for an amendment that could see the Monklands closed and a replacement built outwith Monklands.
We did secure one concession – the health secretary has now promised an independent review of the health board’s consultation process.
Scottish Government guidance states that the Scottish people and NHS staff are “co-owners in the NHS” and that information presented to the public must be “balanced”.
For anyone involved, the public meetings were not consultations – they were more of a one-sided presentation on the case for a hospital in Gartcosh. Health care must be local and accessible. Thousands of people are supporting the call for the new hospital to be built on the same site as the current hospital – and the consultation itself admits that this can be done.
I will continue to back local people in our fight to keep our hospital local. The planning system is skewed in favour of big developers.
Time and again we see the wishes of communities and local councils ignored as developers appeal to the Scottish Government to have the democratic decisions of councils overturned.
Scottish Labour tried to amend the new planning law to give local communities the right to appeal major planning applications that contravene local development plans.
Developers already have appeal rights, but unfortunately SNP members voted against our proposals and the Tories abstained.
I know from the work of the Woodhall, Faskine and Palacecraig Conservation Group how hard it can be for communities to stand up for their greenbelt against developers with deep pockets.
I will continue to support them in their efforts to preserve the environment for future generations and Scottish Labour will try to put this to another vote when the bill comes back to Parliament – we need to bring greater fairness into planning law. and collaborative future relationship with the EU – never mind the remaining tests.
In my view, Theresa May has little chance of getting this deal through the UK Parliament.
We have a Prime Minister who is in office but not in charge – and certainly not in control.
When the Prime Minister cannot command her own party over an issue as fundamental as Brexit there is only one honourable course of action – resign and call a General Election to let the country decide.
My office is here to help and if you require support, please contact me on 01236 423555 or email Richard.Leonard.MSP@ Parliament.Scot
Health care must be local and accessible. Thousands support the call for the new hospital being built on the same site