Health Secretary has updated parliament on
the next steps for replacing Monklands Hospital.
In a statement she said that, while the Scottish Government was
fully committed to building a new Monklands Hospital on the
Wester Moffat site, the £2.1 billion cost of the current design
would not deliver value for money for the public purse.
A comprehensive redesign of the Monklands Replacement Programme
will begin at pace this summer between the Scottish Government,
NHS Lanarkshire and partners in the West of Scotland. Refreshed
plans will be presented to Ministers for decision in 2027. While
this work is being undertaken, targeted investment will be made
in the existing Monklands Hospital to address current
infrastructure pressures.
The Health Secretary also confirmed core services will be
retained in the new acute Monklands Hospital, including A&E.
She said:
I recognise this will be disappointing for staff and communities
who have been engaging patiently for a number of years in the
development of plans. However, having carefully considered the
affordability of the full business case submitted by NHS
Lanarkshire, I cannot approve it in its current form within our
current financial landscape.
The current proposal for Monklands is significantly more
expensive than comparable programmes and would represent an
unprecedented concentration of capital investment in a single
health project. For context, that would be an estimated £5
million per bed to deliver.
This is not a decision I have taken lightly we are fully
committed to building a new hospital at Monklands. However, it is
also my responsibility to ensure that major investment decisions
are affordable, deliverable, and aligned with the future
direction of our health and care system.
"I am clear that the redesign required will be done at pace and
plans are in place to take a decision as early as possible in
2027. In the meantime, I am pleased we will also be providing
targeted urgent investment in the existing Monklands Hospital to
address the current infrastructure challenges staff are facing."
The Health Secretary also confirmed more Community Health Hubs
are to be rolled out across Scotland, bringing together services
including general practice, community nursing, mental health
care, diagnostics, and outpatient services in modern facilities
closer to home. The new centres will be in Hamilton, Cumbernauld,
Edinburgh, Ayr, Kincardine, Inverness, East Dunbartonshire and
Glasgow, building on the Government's existing commitments to
deliver Hubs in Port Glasgow, Cowdenbeath & Lochgelly and
East Calder & Livingston.
As part of the Scottish Government's investments in delivering
more care in communities, the Health Secretary also confirmed two
new GP-walk in facilities in Shotts, North Lanarkshire, as well
as the first shop front walk-in to be delivered in a former store
in a retail park in Lanark, South Lanarkshire.
Ms Constance added:
"These hubs will bring together services such as general
practice, community nursing, mental health care, diagnostics, and
outpatient services in modern facilities closer to where people
live.
"For patients, this will mean quicker access, earlier
intervention, and more care delivered in the community. For the
wider system, it will reduce pressure on acute hospitals,
allowing focus on those who need specialist care most."
Background
Seven GP walk in centres have opened in four months at locations
including Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Dundee, Western Isles, Stranraer,
Lerwick and Hawick.
