Monklands Hospital preferred site for radiotherapy facility
- Published
The Monklands facility would offer radiotherapy to cancer patients
Monklands Hospital in Airdrie has been confirmed as the preferred location for a new cancer treatment centre for the west of Scotland.
The radiotherapy facility would treat 120 patients a day for lung, breast, prostate and rectal cancers.
Monklands was chosen ahead of Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert.
Subject to Scottish government backing, construction could start next year with the centre becoming operational by the end of 2015.
If the planning and business case are approved, the West of Scotland Satellite Radiotherapy Service would be built on the site of the former Airdrie Health Centre.
'Welcome addition'
The facility would operate as a satellite for the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre in Glasgow and aim to deliver the same treatment and techniques currently provided there.
NHS Lanarkshire chief executive Ian Ross said: "Monklands Hospital is already NHS Lanarkshire's identified cancer centre where we have a number of cancer services concentrated and is where the Lanarkshire Maggie's Centre is currently under development.
"The Radiotherapy Satellite Centre will be a very welcome addition on the site.
"We recognise, however, that this is a significant but early stage in the process and further work will be required to develop an outline business case for the new facility."