Plans for a new Monklands Hospital were already two years behind schedule when they were scrapped by the Scottish National Party (SNP), according to documents obtained by The Mail on Sunday. Campaigners and politicians are now calling for transparency regarding the project's timeline, expressing doubt that a new facility can be completed by the previously stated 2031 target.
Reports from NHS Scotland Assure and the NHS Scotland west subnational group highlighted critical issues with the abandoned plan. A Cost Review report by NHS Scotland Assure, submitted in March, noted that essential long-lead materials, including the concrete frame crucial for construction, had not been ordered despite a required timeline of August and October 2025 for these instructions. The original proposal projected construction to begin in April 2026 with completion in 2031, contingent on early 2026 project approval, which had not been secured.
These delays meant the project was already behind schedule before its eventual cancellation. The NHS Scotland west subnational group, comprising senior NHS leaders from the west of Scotland, confirmed in a separate report that the project was running late, with NHS Lanarkshire proposing a commissioning date of 2032/33 for the new site.
Concerns Over Existing Facility
The reports also detailed significant concerns about the current Monklands Hospital in Airdrie, Lanarkshire. NHS leaders described the existing building as "continues to fail on a daily/weekly basis," citing "endemic" infection prevention and control issues and fire safety concerns. The group "support the need to replace [it], based on the current building condition and need and accept that a capital solution will be required to address the significant risks in the continued operation of the current buildings."
SNP ministers, including Neil Gray, Maree Todd, and Jenni Minto, were reportedly made aware of these issues in March. However, the public was not informed until June 25, when the current health secretary, Angela Constance, announced the project would be "reset," citing excessive costs and the need for fresh plans. Constance stated that a new hospital would be built, with construction expected to commence in 2028, following a redesign review by ministers in 2027. A Scottish Government spokesperson indicated that this redesign aims to create a "credible and affordable proposal" and acknowledged the challenges at the current site, promising additional financial support to NHS Lanarkshire for maintaining services during the revised planning phase.
Politicians have voiced criticism regarding the handling of the project. Scottish Labour's health spokeswoman, Dame Jackie Baillie, asserted that the SNP "has been lying to the public for months" and demanded clear timelines and a firm commitment to avoid further delays. Scottish Conservative MSP Meghan Gallacher called for ministers to "come clean about what they knew and when," accusing them of withholding information from voters prior to the election. Campaign group Stand Up For Monklands, represented by Suzanne Macleod, expressed frustration over the apparent mismanagement and demanded transparency from government officials.