Three potential sites for new Monklands hospital revealed

The NHS board in Lanarkshire has approved a shortlist of three potential sites for a replacement hospital.

The new University Hospital Monklands will be built in either Gartcosh, Glenmavis or Wester Moffat.

Shortlisted areas for new Monklands hospital.

Monklands Replacement Project (MRP) director Graeme Reid said: “We’re pleased that the public site nominations process proved very worthwhile, receiving 183 responses, and has identified the land at Wester Moffat as a new option.

“Eight specific sites, additional to those we had considered previously, were suggested and, following assessment against the five site selection criteria, Wester Moffat was the only viable option among them.”

The current Monklands Hospital, described as “ageing”, is being replaced after it was found that most of the mechanical and electrical infrastructure had exceeded its life expectancy.

Recurring failures have been described as having not only financial implications but also having an impact on the delivery of clinical services.

The current facilities also lack space and the buildings don’t have the right layout to ensure the ideal level of care can be provided.

In the new hospital particular departments and services will be located close together to avoid any of these issues in the future.

A “health and wellbeing village” will be built on the current site of University Hospital Monklands so the local community can continue to benefit from community-based healthcare.