NHS Lanarkshire’s new £2 million pathology laboratory has opened at Monklands Hospital in Airdrie.

The ambitious project was completed on time and on budget in October and over 70 staff have now moved in and begun work.

The modern, spacious laboratory will process and analyse tissue samples from across Lanarkshire and replaces the old Monklands lab and the pathology service at Wishaw General Hospital.

Lead biomedical scientist for pathology Allan Wilson, who oversees the lab, said he was delighted with the airy and spacious new building, on a site previously occupied by corporate services.

Allan said: “The lab is fantastic and has outstripped even our highest expectations.

“It was two years in the planning, and involved a tremendous amount of input into the design from me and my colleagues who will be working here.

“Building started in February and we’re pleased it progressed so smoothly.

“We have some of the latest and best equipment here and it’s great to have this new modern facility because we had outgrown our old labs.

“There are 72 staff, including 14 consultant pathologists. The other members of the team are biomedical scientists and support and admin staff. There was minimal disruption to normal services to patients.”

The new building will house all histopathology – tissue examination – and cytopathology – cell examination – across NHS Lanarkshire and create a single, modern pathology department to concentrate services, knowledge and experience and improve the quality of the service.

Director of access Judith Park, who is responsible for the management of NHS Lanarkshire’s laboratory services, said: “Allan and his team deserve thanks for all they have done to help with this major transformation of our services.

“Also deserving of praise are our building contractors GRAHAM Construction, who have completed this project on time and to a very high standard.”