Preferred site for new Monklands Hospital selected by health board

The Wester Moffat site in Airdrie has been selected as the preferred option for the location of the new University Hospital Monklands.

The board of NHS Lanarkshire made the recommendation following a meeting on Wednesday.

The decision has been welcomed by the Airdrie and Shotts MP Neil Gray and MSP Alex Neil, who have been campaigning for the hospital to remain in the Monklands area.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman will have the final say on the decision, taking the health board’s recommendation into account.

Neena Mahal, chair of the board of NHS Lanarkshire, said: “The board’s recommendation that Wester Moffat is the preferred site for the new, state-of-the-art University Hospital Monklands marks a significant milestone in our exciting project to create a world-class hospital to serve the communities of Lanarkshire over the coming decades.”

The decision has been the subject a local campaign and numerous petitions, after the prospect of the hospital being moved out of Airdrie was mooted.

The two other site options were Gartcosh and Glenmavis.

Alex Neil MSP said: “NHS Lanarkshire’s decision to recommend to the Scottish Government that the new Monklands Hospital be built in Airdrie is the right decision. It is the best Christmas present we could have had. I thank the health board for making the right call on behalf of the people of the Monklands.

“The original proposal to build the new hospital at Gartcosh would have been the wrong decision. I am delighted that common sense has prevailed.

“Neil and I have had to fight a long, hard battle, working with thousands of campaigners from all over the Monklands and beyond to ensure that the new hospital will be located in the Monklands area.

“Today that campaign has paid off in spades for the local people. This is their victory and they should be proud of themselves.”