Lanarkshire MSP “excited” for new Monklands Hospital as design concept is unveiled
New concept design. Source: NHS Scotland
The Wester Moffat area on the outskirts of Airdrie, North Lanarkshire will be the home of the new University Monklands Hospital. The £500m state-of-the-art building is set to open by 2028.
Neil Gray, MSP for Airdrie and Shotts highlighted the importance of the redevelopment and why after five decades, now is the time for a new facility.
He said: “The hospital was built in the 1970s and is falling into disrepair. There are various aspects of the building that make it inappropriate for modern hospital use, while a lot of money has been spent to keep it serviceable.”
Inaccessibility was another factor in the decision to demolish and rebuild the hospital elsewhere.
Mr Gray explained: “There’s not enough car-parking at the current site and it is also very close to the town boundary between Airdrie and Coatdyke, which is a very busy road that suffers from congestion.”
Last month, NHS Lanarkshire released an aerial view of the new hospital, which included separate routes for public, staff, and emergency vehicles, as well as bus stops and an access drop-off point.
The Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development also revealed further details on recent involvement from the health board: “I think they are now actively involved in the business case, which will be put to the Scottish government for the capital funding required.”
Mr Gray, alongside former MSP, Alex Neil led the campaign to ensure the hospital would remain local, after a proposal was submitted for a relocation to Gartcosh, which is situated a few miles east of Glasgow.
Proposed sites for new Hospital, showing Wester Moffat site location. Source: NHS Scotland
The SNP politician detailed why he believes a move away from Airdrie would have been a mistake: “There have been bed shortages in Glasgow, so this would’ve assisted their constituency, but would’ve been a detriment to my constituents and the people of Lanarkshire who need access to that third hospital, third A&E unit, and other health services.
“It would also have posed greater challenges for my constituents in terms of access, as the hospital would’ve been much further to the West. But, fundamentally for me, it would’ve seen a reduction of Lanarkshire patients and put additional pressure on the other two A&E units at Hairmyres and Wishaw.”
An article in the Herald reported that the building - which will also have the distinction of being Scotland’s first digital net-zero hospital - could deploy robot litter pickers.
Mr Gray commented on the initative potentially being rolled out: “Having elements of automation in our health service and driving greater efficiency is a good thing. It is also important to allow a greater level of the budget to go into the areas that we really need. That’s something to be excited about.”
Mr Gray concluded by looking ahead to the benefits the hospital will create for the area: “It will provide the people of Lanarkshire with the most cutting-edge access to acute healthcare and provide an attraction for more staff. So, I’m very much looking forward to the new hospital coming on stream in the years to come.”