Communications and Engagement
The project has a Communications and Engagement Strategy.
“Communications” is giving information to the public and our staff while “engagement” is a two-way process, seeking the views of the community and colleagues so we can use their feedback to help to develop our plans.
Communications with the public
- This website is the key resource for the public to learn the latest information on the project
- We also issue media releases and regular digital newsletters
- We issue Snapshot Reports – short, easy-to-understand summaries of the latest developments
- We publish information on the social media channels of both the MRP and NHS Lanarkshire
- We run information campaigns on social media to reach thousands of people across Lanarkshire and beyond
- We make videos about the project
- We have a video screen with information in the University Hospital Monklands foyer
- We answer media enquiries about the project
Communications with our colleagues
- This website is the key resource for our staff to learn the latest information on the project
- We have regular stories about the project in our digital staff magazine, The Pulse, which can be read by the public as well as our colleagues
- We put information in NHS Lanarkshire’s weekly email briefing for all our staff
- We put information in the University Hospital Monklands staff newsletter
- We put information on our staff intranet (a web resource for colleagues)
- We put information in NHS Lanarkshire’s fortnightly email update to local MSPs, MPs and councillors
- We have a video screen with information in the University Hospital Monklands foyer
- Our staff can catch up on all the information we publish on social media
Public engagement
The new hospital is for all the communities of Lanarkshire so it’s vital to get their views.
There was huge public engagement programme to help us select a home for the new hospital, including a call for site suggestions which helped us find the Wester Moffat location. There were community engagement events about the MRP plans and community members took part in a crucial “option appraisal” process to select the preferred site.
Public/patient reps helped us with our departmental design process and are involved in forums such as our ward user groups.
The Monklands Engagement Forum is a group that supports and guides the MRP team and provides scrutiny on how it informs, engages and consults with people about the project. It’s made up of public, patients, carers, community and third sector representatives. Healthcare Improvement Scotland – Community Engagement also participates.
The MRP Immersive Suite is a digital learning and engagement centre, based at the current University Hospital Monklands, which gives colleagues an opportunity to see and understand virtual versions of the hospital design.
Key to our public engagement is our programme of Community Benefits, which focuses on learning opportunities, job creation, apprenticeships, support for businesses large and small, and environmental enhancements. We run an annual Summer School for Lanarkshire’s senior school students to have hands-on experience of some of the many job opportunities that will be provided by the new hospital. We also hold careers roadshows at schools in North and South Lanarkshire.
There are also regular information stalls in the Monklands foyer.
Staff engagement
Engagement with our colleagues is key, just as it is with the public.
Staff and staff side (trade unions and representative bodies) were with us every step of the way as we undertook an engagement process to choose the site for the new hospital, taking part in internal meetings and community engagement events about the MRP plans and getting involved in a crucial “option appraisal” process to select the preferred site.
As part of our design development process, the project team met with staff from individual departments and services to give them the opportunity to review and feedback on overall layouts and specific rooms within their areas. Design workshops and department reviews took place where space planning, equipping and digital requirements were agreed with colleagues who’ll work in these spaces.
As the design plans have developed, there have been staff drop-in events and information stalls in the University Hospital Monklands foyer, which have also allowed colleagues and the MRP team to have a conversation about the project.
The MRP Immersive Suite is a digital learning and engagement centre, based at the current University Hospital Monklands, which gives colleagues an opportunity to see and understand virtual versions of the hospital design.
There are also regular information stalls in the Monklands foyer and we have numerous regular meetings with staff committees, internal governance groups and members of the Board of NHS Lanarkshire.
