The Monklands Replacement Project (MRP) is looking to the future.
The MRP team held their first ‘Future Fridays’ event – with 30 young people from local schools attending to find out more about plans for the new hospital.
Fiona Cowan, MRP clinical lead for nursing, said: “It was a really exciting day for the project. We would like to bring our local young people into the project where possible, to help us design and plan the new hospital.
“Going forward, we would love the young people of our local communities to get employment opportunities, either in the construction of the new hospital or by becoming NHS staff who will work in the new hospital.”
The Monklands Replacement Project has various specialist that contribute to the design, development and the planning of the hospital. As well as the doctors, nurses and other healthcare staff, the project also includes architects, engineers and accountants.
The Future Friday event gave the young people a chance to see the wide range of career options that are available in the NHS.
Andrew Hamilton (13), student at Airdrie Academy said: “I wanted to come along to get a better understanding about what’s happening with the replacement hospital.
“We had a lot of fun. We talked to some of the people that were in the project and we got to learn a lot about them and their jobs.”
Martin Anderson, head teacher of Airdrie Academy, said: “It was terrific to be part of the MRP Future Fridays launch event. This is a key opportunity for us to be involved in the design of the hospital, to support our local residents to have a fantastic new health care facility and to be part of the regeneration of the Monklands area.
“Moreover, it is a chance to engage local employers in the life of the school and to show our young people how a massive project is brought to life and to inspire the next generation.”
Future Fridays is a North Lanarkshire Council initiative that aims to give young people greater opportunities to be job ready and better equipped for life once they leave school.
Councillor Angela Campbell, convener of education, children and families, said, “The dedicated time on a Friday afternoon is really important to make sure young people can learn in a real life context.
“Over the coming years, we’re hoping young people can actually see the Monklands Replacement Projects start to grow and flourish and feel that they have been part of that. We are really excited to see what our young people can do in terms of trying to develop some interesting and inspiring ideas which may become part of the hospital itself.”
