Cumbernauld Citizens Invited to Participate in Community Discussion Event on Future of Monklands Hospital

Cumbernauld Community Health Information Hub is encouraging the people of Cumbernauld to have their say on the future of Monklands Hospital at a Community Discussion Event taking place next week at Cornerstone House Centre.

Facilitated by an independent engagement organisation as part of a public consultation in relation to the Monklands Replacement Project (MRP), the Community Discussion Event is open for anyone to attend. It is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 25 February 2020 from 7.00pm-9.00pm at Cornerstone House Centre, 1 Esk Walk, Cumbernauld, G67 1BZ.  

The Monklands Replacement Project is NHS Lanarkshire’s proposal to replace the existing Monklands Hospital, situated close to Airdrie town centre, with a newly rebuilt, state-of-the-art Monklands Hospital on a new site. A shortlist of three geographical sites have been identified for the rebuild; these are located at Gartcosh, Glenmavis and Wester Moffat. The driving force behind the proposal is the view that the present hospital is becoming unfit for purpose in terms of facilities, building infrastructure, dilapidation, financial maintenance and physical space.     

The purpose of the Community Discussion Event is to give citizens an opportunity to provide feedback and have their say on what is being proposed ahead of a final decision-making process planned for March 2020. With Monklands Hospital being the main infirmary serving those living in Cumbernauld and surrounding villages, it is particularly important that local people express their views. Crucially, Monklands Hospital also provides the nearest Accident and Emergency Department to Cumbernauld.

The evening will incorporate a short introductory presentation lasting 10-15 minutes, which will outline the site options and explain details of the decision-making process. This will be followed by table-top discussions, through which attendees will have the opportunity to provide their feedback.

It is planned that collated feedback from this and other Community Discussions Events will be made available to 100 scoring participants who will vote on the Hospital’s future at a Site Scoring Event scheduled to take place on Tuesday 10 March 2020 from 12.00noon-4.00pm at The Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie. The 100 scoring individuals will comprise of 51 members of the community and 49 employees from Health and Social Care North Lanarkshire (including NHS Lanarkshire staff).

In advance of the Site Scoring Event, an in-depth People’s Hearing will take place on Monday 2 March 2020 from 10.00am-8.00pm at The Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie, to be streamed online at www.monklands.scot.nhs.uk.

This will involve a panel hearing formal representation from members of the public or organised groups with any concerns they have about the accuracy or legitimacy of the information issued about the shortlisted sites. This feedback will then be assessed by the panel to inform the presentations made at the Site Scoring Event. Graeme Reid, Director of Monklands Replacement Project, commented:

“As we prepare for the community and staff-scoring event, the public’s input is vital. We’re publishing a set of detailed information about each of the three shortlisted sites to ensure the public and NHS Lanarkshire staff have as much information as possible to help them to get involved.

“Now available on the Monklands Replacement Project website is transport and travel information, equality and diversity impact documents and the Fairer Scotland Duty Assessment, which covers the socio-economic impacts of the proposals.

“We will also publish further information, covering site history, site conditions, site groundwork / remediation costs, road infrastructure costs and construction costs.

“We’re encouraging the public and staff to take the opportunity to read and assess this information and then decide if they want to offer to get directly involved in the site-scoring event or give feedback through our engagement channels that will help to inform the presentation given to the scoring event participants.”

As well as the consultation at Cornerstone House Centre, Community Discussion Events have also been scheduled to take place on Wednesday 19 February 2020 from 7.00pm-9.00pm at Gartlea Community Centre (Hillfoot Road, Airdrie, ML6 9BF), and Thursday 27 February 2020 from 7.00pm-9.00pm at Conforti Institute (Calder Avenue, Coatbridge, ML5 4JS), with an open invitation extended to all.

Directions and parking information for attending the Event at Cornerstone House Centre can be obtained by clicking here. Latest information updates on the Monklands Replacement Project are available online at www.monklands.scot.nhs.uk.