First fully digital hospital in Scotland appoints construction partner

NHS Lanarkshire has chosen construction partner, Laing O’Rourke, for the next step in University Hospital Monkland's pioneer digitisation journey.  

The engineering enterprise has joined the Monklands Replacement Project (MRP) under a pre-construction agreement to help progress the project’s outline plans – approved by the Scottish Government last month - to a complete business case by 2024. 

The new facility aims to become the first fully digital and net zero carbon emissions hospital in the country.  

Colin Lauder, NHS Lanarkshire director of planning, property and performance, said: “We have chosen a construction partner with a wealth of experience in the healthcare sector. 

"The new facility will be located on a site at Wester Moffat, east of Airdrie, and will provide our clinical staff with a new truly modern working environment to help them deliver the best possible care to patients. It will also create economic benefits for the local community and companies across Lanarkshire and Scotland.” 

Since 2010, the construction specialists have built 18 healthcare facilities across the UK amongst other sites, including the recently completed shopping centre, St James Quarter, in Edinburgh.

Rory Pollock, healthcare sector leader from Laing O’Rourke, said: “We are excited to help bring NHS Lanarkshire’s vision to life and to deliver a modern, sustainable hospital that will serve the local community for many decades to come. 

“Early engagement like this, including input to the final design, will enable us to fully harness the value our manufacturing-led operating model brings, providing greater programme, quality and cost certainty to the benefit of NHS Lanarkshire. 

“Our project team will work with local schools, colleges and businesses to create education, training and employment opportunities.”

Over 40 years old, the current hospital’s infrastructure has exceeded life expectancy, struggling to adapt to the changing healthcare environment. 

The new digitised site aims to improve the quality of services given, making patient journeys more efficient and effective. 

With an estimated construction cost of £700m, the new hospital plans to open in 2031.