Preparatory work at the site of Scotland’s ‘first fully digital hospital’ has begun with ground tests marking the pre-construction phase.
‘Settlement trials’ at the planned University Hospital Monklands in Lanarkshire got underway recently as engineers sought to understand how the ground reacted to earth movement.
The work was carried out as part of the Monklands Replacement Project and will inform design plans for the multimillion facility in Wester Moffat, Airdrie, which is set to open in 2031.
MRP Director Graeme Reid said: “We’re delighted to see this initial work underway on the site, illustrating that the momentum continues on our journey towards Lanarkshire’s new hospital, which will be the first in Scotland to be fully digital and net zero carbon.
“Settlement trials involve earth from the site being formed into three large mounds to test how quickly the ground settles. The results will allow the MRP team to verify their design assumptions about the land and confirm construction plans and methodology for the hospital.
“The public may notice some construction traffic accessing the area and surveyors will be on site regularly over coming months to take readings and assess the settlement of the earth mounds.
“We’ll keep the community informed about future site works.”
The ‘village’-like facility, which will be a net zero carbon hospital, unveiled a computer-generated tour last month.
The visualisation showed how visitors would come in through its east entrance at one end of an ‘airy main street’, leading to three different districts.
There was also a view of the reception area, a café, comfortable seating and the entrance to the clinical research department.
The new Monklands has the ambition to be Scotland’s first fully-digital hospital and the walkthrough continued past electronic self-check-in kiosks before reaching floor-to-ceiling windows with a view of a garden courtyard.
Colin Lauder, NHS Lanarkshire deputy chief executive & director of planning, property and performance, said he recently visited Wester Moffat to observe the work and was impressed by what he saw.
Colin said: “I was pleased to have the opportunity to tour the site along with Donald Reid, who has a background in construction, and is a non-executive director on NHS Lanarkshire’s Board and Chair of the Board sub-committee that provides governance on the MRP.
“We were shown round by Dean Molloy, from contractor I&H Brown, and saw the great work being carried out to undertake the settlement trials.
“It’s inspirational to walk the site and see all the activity, and to envision the magnificent, state-of-the-art hospital building that will stand there in the future.
“This phase of work underlines the fact that NHS Lanarkshire remains fully committed to the construction of the new University Hospital Monklands.
“We’re currently developing the MRP’s Full Business Case (FBC) and the project timeline is unchanged as we work towards completing the FBC in 2025 and opening our new hospital around 2031.”