The Board of NHS Lanarkshire has approved a shortlist of three potential sites for a new, state-of-the-art University Hospital Monklands.

The shortlisted sites are (in alphabetical order):

• Gartcosh
• Glenmavis
• Wester Moffat

All of the sites meet the five site selection criteria:

• Must sit within University Hospital Monklands unscheduled care catchment area;
• Must be a minimum of 40 developable acres;
• Site must have no detrimental impact on adjoining unscheduled catchment areas of hospitals in Lanarkshire, Glasgow or Forth Valley;
• Site must be designated to permit appropriate development;
• Site must have sufficient road and transport infrastructure to support the development of a major hospital site.

The sites at Gartcosh and Glenmavis were previously found to meet the selection criteria prior to an option appraisal process in 2018.

The land at Wester Moffat is a new addition to the options for an alternative location for the hospital, and was identified through a public site nominations process run by NHS Lanarkshire.

Map showing University Hospital Monklands catchment area and shortlisted sites marked in red

The community will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the three shortlisted sites before a site re-evaluation process is undertaken through a formal scoring event involving a representative group of members of the public and NHS staff.

The site scoring event, planned for March 2020, will be a formal, objective assessment based on an agreed set of benefits criteria. To ensure impartiality, it will be facilitated by an independent engagement organisation.

To provide the opportunity for fully informed public feedback in advance of the scoring event, NHS Lanarkshire will publish detailed information on each of the shortlisted sites by the end of January 2020. This will cover issues such as site history, site conditions, transport and travel information, site remediation costs, road infrastructure costs and construction costs.

The public will then have the opportunity to:

1. 1. Suggest additions or changes to the proposed benefits criteria for the scoring event, which cover accessibility by road or public transport, drive times and public transport infrastructure;
   2. Be a participant in the scoring event. NHS Lanarkshire intends to publish details of how participants will be selected at the end of January 2020;
   3. Use NHS Lanarkshire’s open channel of communication, which will include options to seek clarification on any aspect of the process or any of the detailed information provided about the shortlisted sites;
   4. Take part in “People’s Hearings” – structured events where a panel will hear representations from members of the public or organised groups, who wish to put forward any concerns they have about the accuracy or legitimacy of any information issued by NHS Lanarkshire regarding the shortlisted sites. NHS Lanarkshire intends to publish, at the end of January 2020, details of how to participate in the People’s Hearings, which are planned for late February 2020.

Following the outcome of the scoring event there will be an opportunity for further public feedback, which will be collated and issued along with a recommendation for a preferred site location to the NHS Lanarkshire Board in the spring.

NHS Lanarkshire intends to create a “health and wellbeing village” on the current site of University Hospital Monklands after the hospital moves. The vision for existing site involves an exciting proposal, meaning the local community will benefit from enhanced community-based healthcare in addition to the development of a new University Hospital Monklands. NHS Lanarkshire has agreed to start planning for this development in partnership with North Lanarkshire Council, the University of Strathclyde and other community planning partners.