Staff from past and present got together to celebrate the 40^th anniversary since the official opening of Monklands Hospital.

A tea was arranged to mark the official opening by the then Prime Minister Jim Callaghan on 1^st September 1977.

Jessie Gartshore, who started on 1 January 1977, said: “I was the sister in ward four in the surgical unit which was the first ward to open. Jim Callaghan, actually went round my ward, I remember it like it was yesterday.”

Airdrie born and bred, Jessie was also born in Airdrie House which was on the site before the hospital was built.

Jessie, who went on to become the nursing officer before retiring in 1992, added: “It is a real privilege to be here. It is wonderful to see old friends and nursing colleague who were here at the beginning too. I have lots of happy memories about Monklands Hospital.”

Jessie was joined by fellow colleagues Rita Gregg, who was her secretary, and Helen Findlay who worked in nursing salaries.

Rita moved to the new hospital building in 1976 before the first patients were admitted in February 1977. She eventually retired in 1993.

Rita said: “I remember my first time in the canteen in 1976 and here I am again today over 40 years on. It is a lovely tea, the current staff have done well.”

Helen Findlay said: “It was lovely looking round recognising many faces from the past. There was a lot I didn’t recognise but, given that I retired over 20 years ago, perhaps a lot of people didn’t recognise me either.”

NHS Lanarkshire chair, Neena Mahal, said: “This 40th anniversary is a truly momentous occasion, made even more special as there is a family connection with my uncle being one of the first trainee anaesthetists in 1977.”

Calum Campbell, chief executive, said: “Monklands has been fabulous for the 40 plus years it has been here.

“It was a terrific maternity hospital, it has been a great general hospital but times have moved on and healthcare has advanced in the last four decades. This is why we need to bring Monklands Hospital into the 21^st Century.

“A clinically led programme is underway to put together a business case to either fully refurbish or build a replacement Monklands Hospital.”

As part of the OBC, work will take place to identify the preferred option from those set out in the initial agreement; do minimum, full refurbishment of current hospital, new-build on current hospital site or new-build on another site.

An option appraisal event, involving a wide range of stakeholders, will take place during 2018 to identify the preferred option for either refurbishment or rebuild.

The construction period for the new development will be dependent on the preferred option