SNP's Monklands Hospital plan was 'already two years behind' when ministers scrapped it

By HANNAH RODGER, SCOTTISH CHIEF REPORTER Published: 19:17, 8 August 2026 | Updated: 19:17, 8 August 2026 Plans to build a much-needed replacement for crumbling Monklands Hospital were already running two years late when they were scrapped by the SNP, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Campaigners and MSPs have now called on ministers to tell the truth about when the planned hospital will be completed, arguing there is little chance of a new facility being finished by 2031 as previously promised. Documents obtained by the MoS also show NHS leaders’ fears about the existing Monklands hospital in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, which they said ‘continues to fail on a daily/weekly basis’, has ‘endemic’ infection prevention issues and fire safety concerns. It comes after we revealed that the SNP was told to scrap plans for a replacement hospital in Airdrie months before the Holyrood election but failed to tell the public. Scottish Labour’s health spokeswoman Dame Jackie Baillie said: ‘The SNP has been lying to the public for months about the Monklands hospital - it’s time for them to start telling the truth. ‘We need clear and honest timescales for when the new hospital will be delivered and a cast-iron pledge from SNP ministers that there will be no more delays.’ A Cost Review report by NHS Scotland Assure, given to the government in March, detailed how the now-abandoned plan was running behind as vital materials had still not been ordered. The report stated that there had been a need for ‘orders on long lead-in materials, including the concrete frame which sits on the critical path, to be placed in August and October 2025 respectively. Neither of which has been instructed.’ John Swinney and MSP Neil Gray campaigned at the site of the proposed new hospital during the election It stated that the original project proposal had ‘construction works commencing in April 2026 with completion in 2031’, contingent on approval of project in early 2026, ‘which has not been achieved’. Another report obtained by the MoS showed the NHS Scotland west subnational group, made up of senior NHS leaders from the west of Scotland, confirming the project was already running behind. It read: ‘NHS Lanarkshire have…proposed that the new site will be commissioned in 2032/33.’ The group raised concerns about the current Monklands site, with their report stating they ‘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 with respect to infection risk to patients and fire safety. ‘The current building continues to fail on a daily/weekly basis with endemic IPC [infection prevention and control] issues.’ Suzanne Macleod, vice chairwoman of the campaign group Stand Up For Monklands, said the SNP must commit to building the new hospital by 2031. She said: ‘It now seems that even if the original plans had progressed, it would have been impossible to deliver the project in the timescales promised, due to delays in approvals and in procuring materials. Every day it seems that we learn more about the mismanagement of this project and uncover more secrets and lies. ‘This SNP government seems hell bent on delivering a pound shop version of healthcare and the people of Lanarkshire will not stand for it.  'We demand full transparency, openness and honesty from Angela Constance, John Swinney and local MSP and former Health Minister Neil Gray.’ Ministers Neil Gray, Maree Todd and Jenni Minto were told about the problems with the plan in March but the public were kept in the dark until Mr Gray’s successor, new health secretary Angela Constance, announced on June 25 that the project would be ‘reset’. The existing Monklands hospital is said by NHS leaders to be failing on a daily basis She said it was too expensive and fresh plans would be needed but insisted a new hospital would be built and construction would start in 2028. Meghan Gallacher, Scottish Tory MSP, said: ‘SNP ministers must come clean about what they knew and when about the plans for a new Monklands Hospital. ‘They shamefully kept the truth from voters to save their then health secretary at the ballot box, but now they have no hiding place. ‘Do SNP ministers have any confidence that the project is still on track? ‘Given the concerns over the current hospital in terms of its safety for patients and staff, Angela Constance must urgently be upfront about this project, otherwise local patients will be even more furious.’ A Scottish Government spokesman refused to give a guarantee that the new site would be open by 2031 but insisted there would be a new hospital in Wester Moffat, Airdrie, with a ‘redesign expected’ to go before ministers in 2027 and construction starting in 2028. He said: ‘The redesign is not about downgrading services; it is to ensure a credible and affordable proposal which brings value for money for the public purse and delivers high-quality care for the people of Lanarkshire. ‘We recognise the challenges facing staff in the existing Monklands site and will be providing additional financial support to NHS Lanarkshire to maintain safe and effective services while revised plans for a new Monklands Hospital are developed.’