NHS Lanarkshire officials say they are “delighted” to have received government approval for the choice of Wester Moffat as the site of the new Monklands Hospital – and will now be developing the business case stage of the project throughout this year.
It concludes a three-year process to choose a location for the new £400 million facility, which saw the Airdrie farmland emerge as an option a year ago in a re-run of the site selection and consultation process following controversy over the original 2018 choice of the former steelworks site at Gartcosh.
The next stage of the project is development and approval of the outline business case, which will take place in the coming months, with the health board adding: “There are still a number of stages that need to be completed before construction can begin.”
Speaking after health secretary Jeane Freeman gave her approval to the site choice, University Hospital Monklands chief of medical services Dr Rory Mackenzie said: “This decision will be warmly welcomed by all my colleagues across the hospital.”
Dr Mackenzie, who is a member of the Monkland Replacement Project (MRP) team, added: “It’s a crucial step forward on the road to a new Monklands that will be essential in supporting the ideal model of care for our future healthcare challenges, including the rising elderly population.
“We will use the latest technology to deliver Scotland’s first digital hospital; and clinicians remain at the heart of the process, ensuring our new, ultra-modern hospital is designed to tackle public health issues such as the current coronavirus pandemic.”
The Wester Moffat site was confirmed as NHS Lanarkshire’s choice at a board meeting last month, following public consultation and a scoring exercise involving patients and staff carried out throughout last year.
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Board chair Neena Mahal said : “The process of site selection would not have been possible without the vital input we received from the public and our staff during our engagement process prior to the recommendation of a preferred site.
“I would also like to acknowledge the hard work of the MRP team and my board colleagues for their support and diligence.”
Officially approving the plan, Ms Freeman wrote to Ms Mahal: “I note the process followed, the reasons why the board of NHS Lanarkshire is recommending Wester Moffat as the preferred site, and the assurances you have received from Healthcare Improvement Scotland and the Monklands oversight board.
“I am happy to approve the recommendation of Wester Moffat and I am content for you to develop the outline business case.”
She added: “I appreciate the thoroughness of this exercise and the fact that you were able to successfully engage with local stakeholders during what has been a particularly challenging time for the NHS.”
MRP director Graeme Reid said: “We look forward to detailing the significant clinical and economic benefits that the construction of the new hospital will bring to the people of Lanarkshire in our outline business case later this year.
“We will share our exciting plans in the coming months to ensure the public and our staff are fully aware of developments and can continue to provide input.”
