NHS Lanarkshire has published an assessment of the socio-economic impact of plans to provide a new, state-of-the-art University Hospital Monklands.
The Fairer Scotland Duty Assessment (FSDA), which was prepared with input from members of the public and NHS Lanarkshire staff, analyses the proposals to relocate the hospital to one of three potential sites – (in alphabetical order) Gartcosh, Glenmavis, Wester Moffat.
NHS Lanarkshire director of public health Gabe Docherty said: “The Fairer Scotland Duty is a statutory duty which requires public bodies, including NHS Boards, to pay due regard to socio-economic inequalities of outcomes when making policy decisions.
“For the MRP, this means giving consideration to how moving University Hospital Monklands to a new site may impact on those who live in poverty and how, through the new hospital development, we can mitigate these impacts and identify opportunities to reduce socio-economic disadvantage, for example through increased jobs for local people or better transport being put in place as a result of the new build.
“The full FSDA and a summary of the report have been published on the webpage of the Monklands Replacement Project (MRP) – www.monklands.scot.nhs.uk – to ensure the public and our staff have the opportunity to read the findings and give their views.”
Comments on the FSDA can be given until midnight on 18 October 2020:
- Email – Team@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk;
- Write to – FREEPOST RTEJ-HZLK-AETZ, Communications Dept, NHS Lanarkshire, Kirklands, Fallside Road, Bothwell, G71 8BB;
- Phone – 01236 713348.
Gabe added: “The preparation of the assessment included a stakeholder event and staff focus groups in September, focusing on the three shortlisted sites, along with an analysis of up-to-date data around the sites. The FSDA will be updated further to take account of the feedback we receive about it.”
NHS Lanarkshire director of planning, property & performance Colin Lauder said: “The FSDA is among several factors that require to be considered by the Board of NHS Lanarkshire before they recommend a preferred site option to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport, who will make a final decision.
“These factors will also include the views gathered during a period of public and staff feedback on the option appraisal of the three potential sites, which is running until midnight on 18 October.”
See www.monklands.scot.nhs.uk for
The newly-published Fairer Scotland Duty Assessment complements the reports and findings of previous Fairer Scotland Duty Assessments, completed in 2018 and January 2020.
External expert validation of the process was provided by Dr Margaret Douglas (Consultant in Public Health Medicine at the University of Edinburgh) who chairs the Scottish Health Inequalities Impact Assessment Network (SHIIAN).
