Annual Review of NHS Lanarkshire 2024/25
Members of the public were invited to attend NHS Lanarkshire’s annual review on Tuesday 28 October 2025 to hear about a range of developments to improve health services locally.
The review took place at Kirklands Headquarters, Fallside Road, Bothwell, South Lanarkshire G71 8BB.
The performance of all NHS boards is reviewed each year by the Scottish Government Health Department at Annual Reviews.
A recording of the event is available below.
There was a question which we omitted to answer at the annual review and would like to rectify this error by publishing the question and answer below. We have also written a personal response to the individual who submitted the question.
Question:
When is the minor injuries unit reopening at Kello Hospital after it’s “temporary closure” in 2019. The people of Clydesdale are being badly served by NHS Lanarkshire not having easy access to minor injuries with a 40minute drive or 2 hours + journey on public transport to reach the nearest unit. We need thw one at Kello Hospital to be reinstated as a matter of urgency, when is this happening?
Response:
Lanarkshire recognises that rural communities should have access to health services. We are sorry for the inconvenience and concern caused by the continued pause of the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) at Kello Hospital. The MIU at Kello Hospital was suspended at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure patient safety and prevent spreading the virus to vulnerable inpatients. At that time, the MIU staff were also deployed to support other parts of the healthcare system.
Unfortunately, as of now, NHS Lanarkshire does not have the required number of staff with the additional training and competencies needed to safely reinstate minor injuries services at Kello Hospital. Due to ongoing workforce challenges, it is unlikely the community MIU at Kello Hospital will reopen in the short term. Recruitment and training for these specialist roles remain a significant challenge.
While the MIU remains paused, NHS Lanarkshire has established dedicated community treatment services within the catchment areas for Kello and Lady Home Hospitals. These treatment rooms offer appointments for a range of care needs, including minor wounds, burns, and infections. Appointments can be made by calling the Lanark Treatment Room on 01555 667150. There is also a wound clinic in Biggar (at Kello Hospital) open on Tuesdays and Fridays.
We understand the frustration caused by the lack of a local MIU and the impact this has on travel times for treatment. For urgent advice and assessment, NHS 24 (111) remains the first point of contact, supported by the NHS Lanarkshire Flow Navigation Centre Plus (FNC+), which can direct patients to the most appropriate local service and, in many cases, help avoid unnecessary travel. Up to 50% of minor injuries presentations to FNC+ can be managed without a visit to an MIU.
We are committed to ensuring that we keep the community updated on any MIU developments at Kello Hospital.
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