Chamber and committees

The Government continues to support a replacement of University Hospital Monklands, to provide modern health facilities and a range of specialist services for the benefit of patients across Lanarkshire and those living with the Monklands catchment area.

I asked the Director General for Health and Social Care and Chief Executive of NHS Scotland to establish a review to provide me with an independent assessment of the process followed by NHS Lanarkshire including whether it had been consistent with best practice and meaningfully informed by the views of stakeholders.

I can now confirm the details of the review. The Terms of the Reference are to:

Provide an independent assessment of the process followed by NHS Lanarkshire to address:

• The concerns raised by elected representatives and local people about the quality of the option appraisal process and the wider engagement and consultation undertaken by the Board, and, in particular;
• Assess the quality of the information and analysis undertaken by the Board, and the robustness and accuracy of the evidence which informed the options appraisal process;
• Provide advice as to whether the Board’s process was fully in line with best practice and meaningfully informed at all relevant stages by the views of stakeholders, and to;
• Submit a report and recommendations to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport by the end of February 2019, with initial findings to DG Health and Social Care by 15 February 2019. The recommendations should set out a clear set of actions to be implemented by NHS Lanarkshire in order to progress plans for the redevelopment of University Hospital Monklands, and may include any wider observations on the NHS Scotland consultation process more generally.

The Review Team will be chaired jointly by Professors Emma McIntosh and Olivia Wu, both Health Economists from the University of Glasgow. Dr Andrew Walker, also a Health Economist will provide additional input and advice. Dr Mike Higgins from the Golden Jubilee Foundation will provide clinical advice and planning input and analysis will be provided by John McNairney, Scottish Government Chief Planner, based in the Directorate for Local Government and Communities. The Team, can if they consider it appropriate, commission additional expert advice on an ad-hoc basis.

I have received assurance from the Chair of NHS Lanarkshire that they welcome the progress on confirming the Team and will co-operate fully and constructively in order to progress the plans for the redevelopment of University Hospital Monklands in the best interests of patients.