Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 25 June 2026 [Last updated 19:12]
25 Jun 2026 · S7 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
National Health Service Capital Projects
First and foremost, I want to reassure Fulton MacGregor, who has been an unashamed and powerful advocate for his constituents and for that project, because he has expressed disappointment. I want to be in the business of delivery; I am not in the business of aspirations. A single project costing in excess of £2 billion is unaffordable. Given that it is unaffordable, there would be an almighty battle to deliver it, if that could happen at all. The issue is about having a credible plan, with the timescales that we have to date, to deliver for the benefit of the people of Lanarkshire and people elsewhere in Scotland, with that shift in the balance of care.
I have made the decision very early in my tenure as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care, because I think that it is important to do so. I do not want people hanging on—I have never been in the business of leading people up the garden path.
The Government received the full business case some months ago, at the turn of the year. I expect my officials to scrutinise any full business case. Clearly, some decisions cannot be made until such scrutiny has been completed. However, it would not be responsible to ignore the risks of not delivering as a result of that business case. We need to make a decision now—as I have done—because, otherwise, we would end up proceeding by default and not delivering for either Lanarkshire or the people of Scotland, and neither scenario would be acceptable to me.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Clare Adamson)
SNP
The next item of business is a statement by Angela Constance on national health service capital projects. The cabinet secretary will take questions at the en...
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care (Angela Constance)
SNP
I am grateful for the opportunity to provide an update to members on NHS capital projects, specifically on the current position and next steps for the Monkla...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Clare Adamson)
SNP
There is great interest in the statement. I request that members ask succinct questions and that the cabinet secretary gives succinct answers. Those who wish...
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Lab
I thank the cabinet secretary for the advance copy of her statement.First, there is no doubt in my mind that the people of Lanarkshire and the hard-working N...
Angela Constance
SNP
This Government will deliver a new hospital for the Monklands. This is not about ditching; it is about delivering. I made a decision that I believe, as I hav...
Helen McDade (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Reform)
Reform
I thank the cabinet secretary for her statement. She says that this is a whole-system approach, that the old approach of having a large acute hospital is not...
Angela Constance
SNP
For the record, I have written on this matter to Ms McDade in her capacity as the convener of the Health, Care and Sport Committee.Let me be clear: we still ...
Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP)
SNP
As one of the two Monklands MSPs, I cannot stand here and say that I am happy with today’s announcement. As the health secretary will be aware, Monklands hos...
Angela Constance
SNP
First and foremost, I want to reassure Fulton MacGregor, who has been an unashamed and powerful advocate for his constituents and for that project, because h...
Kayleigh Kinross-O’Neill (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green)
Green
The statement refers to a shift towards bringing care closer to home, which we welcome.Figures that were published by Macmillan Cancer Support show that near...
Angela Constance
SNP
As would be expected from the health secretary, I recognise the importance of cancer care. We still need to overcome many challenges in that care, notwithsta...
Miles Briggs (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Con)
Con
The Sunday Mail reported on 26 April that ministers had failed to sign off on the business case for the new Monklands hospital prior to the election, so it i...
Angela Constance
SNP
It was always going to be the case that the old hospital would continue to be used while the new hospital was being built, which means that important investm...
Adam Harley (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (LD)
LD
It is not a great look that the Government has waited until after the election and until the very last moment before recess to deliver what will be bitterly ...
Angela Constance
SNP
I say to the member that this is a parliamentary day—it might be the last day before recess, but it is still a working day. I do not know about him, but ever...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Clare Adamson)
SNP
If we are to get through all members who want to ask a question, we will need shorter questions and answers, please.
Alex Kerr (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP)
SNP
I thank the cabinet secretary for her update on NHS capital projects and the future delivery of the Monklands hospital, and for the direct and transparent wa...
Angela Constance
SNP
I appreciate Mr Kerr’s advocacy on the issue. It is important to recognise the fundamental and basic point that investing in good primary care, improving acc...
Joe Long (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
People in Kincardine, in Fife, desperately need a new health centre. The existing practice was condemned as not fit for purpose in 2016. A decade on, can the...
Angela Constance
SNP
I know that there is great interest in primary care in terms of GP services and local health centres. We have made a number of commitments with three pilot a...
Laura Mitchell (Moray) (SNP)
SNP
I thank the cabinet secretary for her statement and I note her remarks on the Baird and ANCHOR in Grampian. Will she set out how the Government is supporting...
Angela Constance
SNP
I recognise the importance of services at Dr Gray’s hospital and access to primary care for Laura Mitchell’s constituents. I reassure her that I will work cl...
Victor Currie (Highlands and Islands) (Reform)
Reform
I declare an interest as an employee of NHS Lothian.I thank the cabinet secretary for the advance sight of her statement. In the light of the decision to pau...
Angela Constance
SNP
The member makes an important point about taking a whole-system approach. We cannot address issues in one part of the system without being cognisant of press...
Stuart McMillan (Inverclyde) (SNP)
SNP
Can the cabinet secretary provide any details about when funding will be in place to replace the Port Glasgow health centre with a new health hub? Can she ad...
Angela Constance
SNP
I recognise the importance of investment in facilities such as the new Port Glasgow health centre and of improvements to Inverclyde royal hospital. Planning ...
Gillian Mackay (Central Scotland and Lothians West) (Green)
Green
There are lessons to be learned from this situation, but that will be of little comfort to the staff and patients who are dealing with an old hospital. Right...
Angela Constance
SNP
I agree with the member that there are always lessons to be learned in every journey travelled. I assure her that, in this instance, lessons will be learned....
David Barratt (Cowdenbeath) (SNP)
SNP
I thank the cabinet secretary for her statement. I will pick up on investment in community health hubs and, specifically, the replacement of Lochgelly health...
Angela Constance
SNP
In-depth work is continuing around the revenue-based funding model to enable the three pilot areas that I mentioned in my statement to proceed; that includes...