Monklands hospital plans go to Scottish Government for final approval

Board members agreed that the Monklands Replacement Project (MRP) business case should now be submitted to the Scottish Government for consideration and final approval.

Scottish Government approval will allow hospital construction to begin next year at Wester Moffat in Airdrie, with a targeted opening in 2031.

Martin Hill, chair of the board of NHS Lanarkshire, said: “This is the most important decision by the board in recent memory and marks a significant milestone for the people of Lanarkshire.

“I’d like to thank everyone involved, including the board members for their diligent consideration of such a comprehensive and complex business case. We were impressed by the highly detailed document, which gave us assurance that all aspects of the hospital plans and designs have been thoroughly assessed and that there has been wide engagement with the public and with our staff as development of the design has taken shape.”

Louise Long, chief executive of NHS Lanarkshire, added: “I’m delighted that we have reached this landmark stage in the approval process for our magnificent new hospital, which will serve all the communities of Lanarkshire.

“The hospital plans are trailblazing in their ambitions to use digital technology to benefit patients, visitors and staff. They’re also designed to achieve our sustainability goals through being net zero carbon for both construction and operation.”

Colin Lauder, NHS Lanarkshire executive director for Monklands Replacement & PFI Contracts, said: “The business case describes how we will create Scotland’s most advanced hospital.

“We’ve developed a revolutionary blueprint for care provision that will meet the needs of the 2030s and beyond. The new hospital will have all the same services as the existing Monklands, including A&E.

“As well as providing emergency and planned care for residents in its vicinity, the hospital will offer planned care for patients from across North and South Lanarkshire in its specialist services, which include cancer care, infectious disease medicine, renal (kidney) medicine, urology surgery, and ear, nose and throat surgery. It will also be home to all planned inpatient orthopaedic surgery in Lanarkshire.

“A significant construction project like this brings a wider boost to the region, and our exciting Community Benefits programme will target job creation, apprenticeships, learning opportunities, support for businesses large and small, and environmental enhancements. We are also working in partnership with North Lanarkshire Council on the planned East Airdrie Link Road – another economic boost to the area connected to the hospital.

“Through our extensive community engagement we know that parking and connectivity are the issues that people most often ask us about. Parking provision will be double that of the existing hospital, including a multi-storey. We’re committed to having suitable public transport links, and the planned link road will provide good connectivity to the hospital.”

MRP director Graeme Reid said: “Final Business Case completion is the result of years of hard work by the project team, which consists of NHS colleagues and a number of expert external advisers and contractors.

“I’d like to pay tribute to everyone who has helped us reach this vital stage on the path to our state-of-the-art new hospital.”