Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
NHS countdown
Last public meeting on hospital’s future
Time is running out for the people of Airdrie and Coatbridge to have their say on the future of Monklands Hospital.
The final public consultation meeting will take place this evening.
The meeting in Gartlea Community Centre, Hillfoot Road, will discuss plans for a £400m project to replace or fully refurbish the hospital and the proposed closure of its orthopaedic and trauma unit.
Although online public submissions will continue to be taken until Tuesday, November 1, tonight is the last chance for people to speak on the plans in an official public forum arranged by NHS Lanarkshire.
The health board’s open meeting will be held from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.
It will include an introductory presentation, small group discussions and a question and answer session with invited guests.
Other proposals coming under scrutiny at the meeting will be the delivery of highquality specialist services in centres of excellence, increased use of technology to help patients manage their own conditions, the development of more community services and a long-term model for the provision of trauma and orthopaedic surgery across Lanarkshire.
Iain Wallace, NHS Lanarkshire’s medical director, said: “We are urging people to take the opportunity to have their say on the healthcare strategy while the consultation is still open.
“Their comments and feedback are crucial to ensuring we have the right strategy in place to deliver high-quality, safe, effective and person-centred care for the people of Lanarkshire.
“As well as setting out our proposals for the future, Achieving Excellence includes a clear commitment from NHS Lanarkshire that Wishaw General, Hairmyres and Monklands hospitals will all continue to deliver emergency care.
“Each hospital will continue to have a fully- functioning, consultant- led emergency department, acute medical and surgical services, diagnostics and imaging, operating theatres and critical care and outpatient services.”
Achieving Excellence is one part of a trilogy of proposals, along with joint strategic commissioning plans produced by the North and South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnerships, which will “deliver modern health and social care services”.
More information, including copies of the consultation document, is available at www.nhslanarkshire.org.uk/Involved/consultation/healthcare-strategy.
People can send in their views before November 1 by completing the online questionnaire at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/achievingexcellenceconsultation, emailing their comments to hcsviews@lanarkshire. scot. nhs. uk or by posting their comments to Freepost RTEJ-HZLKAETZ, NHS Lanarkshire, Kirklands, Fallside Road, Bothwell, Glasgow, G71 8BB.