(Pictured) Margaret Moncrieff, Chair of South Lanarkshire Health & Social Care Forum and member of the Monklands Engagement Forum.

Our latest Monklands Replacement Project (MRP) blog is a little bit different. It’s not written by one of the MRP team but instead gives the views of Margaret Moncrieff, a community representative who’s one of the many Lanarkshire locals who’ve been helping throughout the project to advise on the hospital plans from the perspective of the general public, patients, carers and visitors.

Margaret, who’s Chair of South Lanarkshire Health & Social Care Forum, is a member of the Monklands Engagement Forum, which advises the MRP on how we involve the public in the project. Margaret has also taken part in the MRP’s Ward User Group and departmental design workshops.

As a member of the Monklands Engagement Forum, along with others representing the public, patients, carers, community groups, the third sector and NHS Lanarkshire staff, I have been involved in influencing all aspects of the format and content of the new hospital.

The work undertaken with local schools, colleges and potential contractors has been excellent, ensuring the voices of ALL possible users of the hospital have been involved. This results in the community having “ownership” of the building and therefore more pride in its use.

Regular stakeholder updates, newsletters, media releases and social media posts have kept the community up to date with developments. This is so important as it can look like nothing is happening when there is actually a lot of work going on behind the scenes.

The change of the preferred site for the hospital further underlines that the project was listening to the views of the local community.

I’m part of a Community Panel for a UK Health Foundation project to compile a Capital Health Impact Assessment Tool and website. I’m so impressed by the MRP I have put it forward as “An Example of Good Practice”, to test the tool and be included on the website.

You can be assured that the new hospital will provide single patient rooms, excellent use of digital technology, suitable parking and accessibility. It will ensure patients, carers and staff will feel safe, comfortable and supported in the new environment.