NATIONAL DISGRACE

Anger at delay in replacement for building branded death trap'

- PAUL HUTCHEON

Maintenance bill for crumbling wards runs into tens of millions

HEALTH Secretary Neil Gray’s local hospital has been branded a “death trap” after a leaked report revealed an infestation of flies, asbestos contamination and fire safety fears.

Monklands Hospital in Gray's Airdrie and Shotts constituency was due to be rebuilt but the plan was halted after the SNP government blocked all new NHS building projects.

Now the Daily Record can reveal a damning internal report by NHS Lanarkshire highlighted a series of major problems at the crumbling hospital.

The document, leaked to the Record, tells of serious failings in the heating and drainage sytems, as well as rotting windows and concerns over fire safety.

The dossier also tells how part of the urology ward was closed due to an infestation of flies and beds have closed in the high dependency unit over a risk of "ceiling tiles falling and asbestos".

Ward two, which handles infectious diseases, suffered the "rolling closure" of four beds as a result of flooring issues. The same ward suffered a heating system failure.

A unit for elderly patients had to partially close due to problems with the plumbing.

The report notes an increase in the time for getting test results back after a lab flood.

It concludes: "A replacement of the current hospital is urgently needed.

The SNP Government last night blamed Tory cuts on spending in England and Wales for reducing the amount available in Scotland.

But Labour branded the state of Scotland's hospitals a "national disgrace".