Sir John Wilson, a businessman and local politician, bequeathed the land to the people of Airdrie and it became the local maternity hospital (Airdrie House Maternity Home Hospital) in 1919.[3] The facility closed as a maternity hospital in 1962 and was completely demolished in 1964.[4]
Originally planned as Airdrie District General Hospital, following a local council reorganisation, the new acute hospital on the site became known as Monklands District General Hospital. Although some hospital departments, including the College of Nursing were open by 1974, the hospital did not become fully operational until 1977.[5]
In April 2006 NHS Lanarkshire issued its 'Picture of Health' document suggested the downgrading to two consultant-led A&E departments, with a choice between Monklands Hospital and Hairmyres Hospital for downgrading. The level two hospital would have a nurse-led Minor Injuries Unit, along with planned surgery, full diagnostic/outpatient services and general medicine. Eventually, Monklands was earmarked for downgrading. This would have resulted in NHS Lanarkshire having consultant-led accident and emergency departments only at Wishaw General Hospital and Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride.[6]
In December 2013 it emerged that Healthcare Improvement Scotland figures showed the hospital had recorded a higher than predicted mortality rate in 18 of the previous 27 quarterly reports.[12] The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties in Scotland produced a report entitled "Learning from serious failings in care" in July 2015. They found above-average mortality rates at the hospital and called on NHS Lanarkshire to make widespread improvements.[13]
In November 2017, NHS Lanarkshire renamed all three acute hospitals in the local area to reflect their new university teaching status.[14]
Monklands hospital can be described as a medium-sized general hospital, apart from wards 1 and 2, all the hospital wards and departments are 'under one roof'. Wards 1 and 2 are reached through a glass tunnel. The hospital is distinctive in that it has two towers, one predominantly medical wards, the other surgical. The towers are six floors each, with a lower ground level, a ground and four floors above that. The lower ground contains the canteen, the pharmacy and the mortuary. The wards, bed capacity and their specialities are:[17]
