Health Secretary updates on NHS capital projects

Health Secretary Angela Constance has updated parliament on the next steps for replacing Monklands Hospital.

In a statement she said that, while the Scottish Government was fully committed to building a new Monklands Hospital on the Wester Moffat site, the £2.1 billion cost of the current design would not deliver value for money for the public purse.

A comprehensive redesign of the Monklands Replacement Programme will begin at pace this summer between the Scottish Government, NHS Lanarkshire and partners in the West of Scotland. Refreshed plans will be presented to Ministers for decision in 2027. While this work is being undertaken, targeted investment will be made in the existing Monklands Hospital to address current infrastructure pressures.

The Health Secretary also confirmed core services will be retained in the new acute Monklands Hospital, including A&E.

She said:

“I recognise this will be disappointing for staff and communities who have been engaging patiently for a number of years in the development of plans. However, having carefully considered the affordability of the full business case submitted by NHS Lanarkshire, I cannot approve it in its current form within our current financial landscape.

“The current proposal for Monklands is significantly more expensive than comparable programmes and would represent an unprecedented concentration of capital investment in a single health project. For context, that would be an estimated £5 million per bed to deliver.

“This is not a decision I have taken lightly – we are fully committed to building a new hospital at Monklands. However, it is also my responsibility to ensure that major investment decisions are affordable, deliverable, and aligned with the future direction of our health and care system.

"I am clear that the redesign required will be done at pace and plans are in place to take a decision as early as possible in 2027. In the meantime, I am pleased we will also be providing targeted urgent investment in the existing Monklands Hospital to address the current infrastructure challenges staff are facing."

The Health Secretary also confirmed more Community Health Hubs are to be rolled out across Scotland, bringing together services including general practice, community nursing, mental health care, diagnostics, and outpatient services in modern facilities closer to home. The new centres will be in Hamilton, Cumbernauld, Edinburgh, Ayr, Kincardine, Inverness, East Dunbartonshire and Glasgow, building on the Government's existing commitments to deliver Hubs in Port Glasgow, Cowdenbeath & Lochgelly and East Calder & Livingston.

As part of the Scottish Government's investments in delivering more care in communities, the Health Secretary also confirmed two new GP-walk in facilities in Shotts, North Lanarkshire, as well as the first shop front walk-in to be delivered in a former store in a retail park in Lanark, South Lanarkshire.

Ms Constance added:

"These hubs will bring together services such as general practice, community nursing, mental health care, diagnostics, and outpatient services in modern facilities closer to where people live.

"For patients, this will mean quicker access, earlier intervention, and more care delivered in the community. For the wider system, it will reduce pressure on acute hospitals, allowing focus on those who need specialist care most."

Background

Seven GP walk in centres have opened in four months at locations including Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Dundee, Western Isles, Stranraer, Lerwick and Hawick.