At its May meeting, the Lanarkshire NHS Board agreed the local review would not conclude until after the national review reports and that augmented business continuity arrangements should be introduced to improve the service.

Chief Executive Calum Campbell said: “Our business continuity arrangements need to be enhanced to improve patient safety pending the outcome of the national review.

“An interim service model based at Airdrie Health Centre and Douglas Street Clinic in Hamilton will provide opportunities to improve the safety of the current service.

“It will provide the optimum level of accommodation to expand the service in line with the feedback we have received through the consultation phase. The interim service will be kept under constant review and we will undertake a full review, with public involvement, within six months.

“When the national recommendations are known we will seek to implement these as soon as possible.”