NHS Lanarkshire has launched its process of further staff and public engagement about the three potential alternative sites for a new, state-of-the-art University Hospital Monklands.

The engagement programme gives colleagues and the wider community the chance to provide feedback on the shortlist of sites for the hospital – Gartcosh, Glenmavis and Wester Moffat – before a site evaluation process is undertaken on March 10 through a formal scoring event involving a representative group of members of the public and our staff.

Monklands Replacement Project (MRP) director Graeme Reid said: “As we prepare for the Community & Staff Scoring Event, the public’s input is vital.

“We’re publishing a set of detailed information about each of the three shortlisted sites to ensure the public and our staff have as much information as possible to help them to get involved.

“Now available on the MRP webpage – www.monklands.scot.nhs.uk – is transport and travel information, equality and diversity impact documents and the Fairer Scotland Duty Assessment, which covers the socio-economic impacts of the proposals. In coming days, we will publish further information, covering site history, site conditions, site groundwork/remediation costs, road infrastructure costs and construction costs.

“We’re encouraging the public and staff to take the opportunity to read and assess this information and then decide if they want to offer to get directly involved in the site scoring event or give feedback through our engagement channels that will help to inform the presentation given to the scoring event participants.”

Graeme added: “Along with services for the hospital’s catchment population, including A&E, the new Monklands will continue to provide the same Lanarkshire-wide services as the existing hospital, including cancer care, communicable diseases, ear, nose and throat, and renal. So it’s crucial that members of the community across the whole of Lanarkshire get involved in the engagement process.”

There are lots of ways for people to get involved. Places are limited, so event participation will require prior registration/nominations.

Community discussions
18 February 2020: Gartlea Community Centre, Airdrie, 7-9pm.
19 February 2020: Gartcosh Social Club, Gartcosh, 7-9pm.
25 February 2020: Cornerstone House Centre, Cumbernauld, 7-9pm.
27 February 2020: Conforti Institute, Coatbridge, 7-9pm.

These are structured events designed to provide members of the public with an opportunity to give feedback on the proposed sites in advance of the formal scoring event. The event will be facilitated by an independent engagement organisation. The event will comprise a short presentation (10-15 minutes) setting out the site selection and scoring process followed by table-top discussions to ensure that all participants have an opportunity to provide feedback. This feedback will be made available to the participants at the scoring event on 10 March 2020.

You must register to take part:
• email – MRP.Team@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk (including “Community discussion” and name of the venue in the email subject line), providing your name, address, postcode and daytime contact number;
• phone – 01236 713348.

People’s Hearing
2 March 2020: Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie, 10am – 8pm.

A structured event at which a panel will hear representations from members of the public or organised groups about any concerns they have about the accuracy or legitimacy of any information on the shortlisted sites issued by NHS Lanarkshire. This feedback will then be assessed by the panel to inform the information to be presented at the site scoring event.

As well as registration to take part, this event will require advance submission of a participant’s written evidence and/or presentation material.

Participation requires prior registration and submission of your written evidence/presentation by 24 February 2020.

For information on how to take part see the People’s Hearing briefing sheet at http://www.monklands.scot.nhs.uk.
Or email – MRP.Team@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk (including “People’s Hearing” in the email subject line), providing your name, address, postcode and daytime contact number.
Or phone – 01236 713348.

If you do not wish to appear at the hearing but would still like to submit written evidence for the panel to consider, please provide this material by 24 February 2020:
Email – MRP.Team@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk (including “People’s Hearing” in the email subject line), providing your name, address, postcode and daytime contact number. Please make clear in your email that you are not requesting to present this information at the People’s Hearing.
Or phone 01236 713348.

Be a participant in the Community & Staff Scoring Event
10 March 2020: Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie, 12-4pm.

A formal, objective evaluation undertaken by 100 people – 51 members of the community and 49 staff from NHS Lanarkshire and health service partners.
The public can nominate themselves or their community group as one of the participants, and NHS Lanarkshire colleagues can nominate themselves as one of the staff representatives.
Nominations must be made by noon on 17 February 2020.

Fill in a nomination form at www.monklands.scot.nhs.uk.
For a paper copy of the form or further information on the nomination process:
• Email – MRP.Team@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk; (with “Nominations” in the email subject line), providing name, address, postcode and daytime contact number;
• Write to – FREEPOST RTEJ-HZLK-AETZ, Communications Dept, NHS Lanarkshire, Kirklands, Fallside Road, Bothwell, G71 8BB, providing name, address, postcode and daytime contact number;
• Phone – 01236 713348.

Suggestions for criteria to evaluate the sites
NHS Lanarkshire is also inviting suggestions for criteria to evaluate the sites at the scoring event.
The health board is proposing to use the four “benefits criteria” used previously to evaluate the sites:
• Getting in and out of the site by road;
• Journey times;
• Public transport infrastructure;
• Ability to support “centres of excellence” (specialised services based at one hospital site) and regional NHS services.

A detailed description of these criteria is available at www.monklands.scot.nhs.uk.
Submissions should include ranking of the criteria, any suggestions for changes to the proposed criteria (including reasoning for those), and suggestions for any additional criteria (including reasoning for those).
Suggestions and rankings must be submitted by noon on 17 February 2020:
• Email – MRP.Team@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk (with “site criteria” in the email subject line), providing name, address, postcode and daytime contact number;
• Write to – FREEPOST RTEJ-HZLK-AETZ, Communications Dept, NHS Lanarkshire, Kirklands, Fallside Road, Bothwell, G71 8BB, providing name, address, postcode and daytime contact number;
• Phone – 01236 713348 for more information.

BACKGROUND
See www.monklands.scot.nhs.uk for site information and participation details. There will also be leaflets and posters at hospitals, health centres and libraries.

Participants in the Community & Staff Scoring Event will be required to familiarise themselves in advance with the detailed site information published by NHS Lanarkshire and attend the entire event on 10 March, including a pre-briefing session from noon.
The following are not eligible to participate in the scoring event due to potential conflict of interest:
• Members of the Board of NHS Lanarkshire.
• Members of the Monklands Replacement Oversight Board (MROB).
• Members of the Monklands Replacement Project Stakeholder Engagement Group (SEG).
• Local MSPs/MPs/councillors at North Lanarkshire Council and South Lanarkshire Council.

NHS Lanarkshire intends to create a “health and wellbeing village” on the current site of University Hospital Monklands after the hospital moves. The vision for existing site involves an exciting proposal, meaning the local community will benefit from enhanced community-based healthcare in addition to the development of a new University Hospital Monklands. NHS Lanarkshire has agreed to start planning for this development in partnership with North Lanarkshire Council, the University of Strathclyde and other community planning partners.