The new Monklands Hospital is now likely to open three years later than anticipated, after a revised project timescale was agreed by NHS Lanarkshire to address “fiscal uncertainty”.
Ground works at the Wester Moffat site had been set to start next year with the help of advance funding ahead of its full business case receiving final Scottish Government approval – but the site start has now been pushed back to a later date.
It means the £400 million hospital is now expected to open in 2031 rather than the previously-hoped 2028, after health board officials agreed to reschedule the works to a later date “when there is expected to be greater clarity on the financial position of NHS Scotland”.
NHS Lanarkshire board members officially approved the draft outline business case for the hospital at a special meeting today, and agreed that it should now be submitted to the Scottish Government for formal approval.
A health board statement noted: “In approving the business case, the board acknowledged the current uncertainty surrounding the overall UK and Scottish fiscal position and the potential impact on the project.”
Planning, performance and property director Colin Lauder said: “To give the project the best chance of moving through the funding approval process, the outline business case includes a revised timescale for the ground works at Wester Moffat.
“It had originally been hoped to begin next year by seeking early release of funding prior to final approval of the full business case; we have now scheduled the ground works for later in the timeline at a point when there is expected to be greater clarity on the overall financial position of NHS Scotland.
“This does have an impact on the estimated completion date for the project, which is likely to move from 2028 to 2031 – the final programme timescales will be agreed when the full business case is submitted in 2024.
“We know the people of Lanarkshire and our staff are as eager as we are for the new hospital to open its doors as soon as possible – however, we are advised that this is the most viable way forward for the project in light of the current financial uncertainty.
Mr Lauder added of the decision to approve the outline business case: “This is an important milestone and we would like to thank all of the many staff and other stakeholders for the enormous amount of work they have done to bring the project to this stage.
“We recognise this is a challenging time to bring forward such a major capital development given the wider financial pressures. However, there is a strong business case to do so.”
The new Monklands Hospital will replace the current 45-year-old building at Monkscourt Avenue; it is being designed as Scotland’s first digital hospital and is set to become Lanarkshire’s specialist centre for elective orthopaedic surgery.
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