NHS Lanarkshire has published additional information on journey times, the impact of a new road link and land remediation costs as part of its public consultation on the replacement or refurbishment of University Hospital Monklands.

The information has been put on the dedicated consultation website – www.monklands.scot.nhs.uk – and links to it are also available through the site’s frequently asked questions section.

In addition, a new video featuring University Hospital Monklands director of services Andrea Fyfe discussing the need for a new hospital is now live on NHS Lanarkshire’s Facebook and Twitter

A proposal for a new-build hospital at Gartcosh is being consulted on after it emerged from an option appraisal process as the highest scoring option when compared to ongoing maintenance of the current building, a rebuild on the current site or a move to a location at Glenmavis.

NHS Lanarkshire is urging the public, its staff and other stakeholders to give their views before the consultation ends on October 15 by completing the questionnaire in the consultation document distributed to hospitals, health centres, libraries, pharmacies and at meetings. The consultation document is also on the website where the questionnaire can be filled in online.

NHS Lanarkshire director of planning, property and performance Colin Lauder said: “Since the consultation began in July, we have carried out extensive communications and engagement work, including 13 public meetings and a series of other events for the public and staff.

“We have been listening closely to all the feedback at these meetings and on social media to identify the issues that we are being asked about most often.

“In response we have published additional information on three key topics: the estimated travel times to the potential alternative locations at Gartcosh and Glenmavis, which were calculated by our external advisers using a specialist industry-standard transport data system; the potential impact of the East Airdrie Link Road, which is planned to be built close to the Glenmavis location; and the process undertaken by our advisers to calculate the estimated costs of remediation work on the Glenmavis and Gartcosh sites.

“Our aim is to give the public and our staff as much clear and accurate information as they need to allow them to assess the proposals for the future of University Hospital Monklands and we hope this additional material will assist them do that.”

In late November, NHS Lanarkshire’s Board will be asked to decide a preferred option for an outline business case (OBC) for the hospital after considering the consultation feedback, the option appraisal process and a financial appraisal, which will be updated to take into account a recent offer from the Glenmavis landowner to provide the site for one penny. The OBC will be submitted for approval to the Scottish Government in 2019 before the project can move on to a full business case in 2020.

The new information can be found here:

Travel time analysis https://www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/?wpdmdl=3278&ind=1538741515855

Question on East Airdrie Link Road at

https://www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/get-involved/consult-engage/monklands/mrrp-faqs/