Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP for Central Scotland, Graham Simpson, says plans to halt work on Monklands Hospital in Airdrie and a national treatment centre in Cumbernauld are a “hammer blow” for local health services in Lanarkshire
Across Scotland, at least a dozen construction projects have been delayed or paused for up to two years because the SNP-Green government are refusing to provide the funding.
In NHS Lanarkshire plans for Monklands Hospital in Airdrie and a national treatment centre in Cumbernauld have become a victim of the financial squeeze.
Graham Simpson MSP says the blame lies squarely with the SNP who have “financially mismanaged” our NHS during their near-17 years in office.
He hit out at SNP ministers for “recklessly squandering” record funding from the UK Government, with the knock-on effect being delays to crucial new health services in NHS Lanarkshire.
Graham Simpson MSP added that it will be suffering patients and dedicated staff in NHS Lanarkshire who pay the price for the SNP’s mismanagement and urged new SNP health secretary Neil Grey to “come clean” on the future of these projects.
Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP Graham Simpson said: “Further delays to the plans for a replacement for Monklands Hospital in Airdrie and a national treatment centre in Cumbernauld are a hammer blow to local health services in NHS Lanarkshire.
“The blame for the pause on this project lies squarely with the SNP Government. They have recklessly squandered the record funding they have received from the UK Government, which has left NHS Lanarkshire without the resources needed to update local services.
“It is suffering patients and dedicated staff in NHS Lanarkshire who will pay the price for the SNP’s financial mismanagement, as they have to wait ever longer for new health services that are fit for the modern age.
“At topical questions yesterday, I asked Neil Gray to commit, and he couldn’t. He needs to ensure that this happens when the people of Lanarkshire are expecting a new Monklands Hospital to open in 2031.
“Neil Gray must urgently come clean on what this means for Monklands Hospital in Airdrie and a national treatment centre in Cumbernauld, rather than leaving people in NHS Lanarkshire in the dark.”
