Community members supporting plans for the new University Hospital Monklands are stressing its creation will boost care across Lanarkshire. While patients who live in the vicinity of the new hospital will receive both emergency and planned care there, it will also will provide planned care in a number of specialties for patients living in South Lanarkshire and the area of North Lanarkshire outside the new Monklands’ “catchment area”.

Jan Taylor, from Cambuslang, (pictured above), says the new hospital at Wester Moffat in Airdrie will play a key role in the lives of her fellow South Lanarkshire residents as well as those across North Lanarkshire.

Jan said:

“As Chair of Camglen Health & Social Care Forum and Vice-Chair of South Lanarkshire Health & Social Care Forum, I’m delighted to be a member of the Monklands Engagement Forum, which advises the Monklands Replacement Project on how it involves the public.”

 

“People in South Lanarkshire or the wider North Lanarkshire area may think a state-of-the-art new hospital in Airdrie isn’t relevant to their healthcare needs.”

 

“But we’ve been spreading the message that the new Monklands, like the existing hospital, will treat patients from across Lanarkshire in its specialist services: cancer care; ear, nose & throat surgery; infectious disease medicine; the Lanarkshire Beatson radiotherapy centre; renal (kidney) medicine; and urology surgery.”

 

“It will also be home to all of Lanarkshire’s planned inpatient orthopaedic surgery, which includes ops like hip and knee replacements.”

 

“So we folk in the South, and those in the North who may not consider Monklands their local hospital, will more than likely find ourselves stepping through the doors of Scotland’s most advanced hospital after it opens in 2031.”

 

“Because of that we’re very keen to get the message to as many people as possible in these areas that these vital planned care services will be available to them at Monklands, and they will receive the best treatment in these ‘centres of excellence’.”

 

“We know the issue of travel is a vital factor. Improvements to public transport are part of the overall project and the team has stressed they have a duty to ensure that bus services to the new location will be as good as, or better than, those to the current hospital site.”

 

“I’m delighted to be involved in the project – the progress achieved by all involved has been marvellous. The new hospital will be an amazing asset for NHS Lanarkshire, those who work there and to all who use it – wherever they come from across Lanarkshire.”

Jan’s message was echoed by Margaret Moncrieff, from Larkhall, (pictured above), another community representative who’s among 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, Chair of South Lanarkshire Health & Social Care Forum, is also a member of the Monklands Engagement Forum.

She said:

“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.”

 

“I’ve been involved in influencing all aspects of the format and content of the new hospital as it will be very important to people in my area and across Lanarkshire.”