WORK is underway at Monklands Hospital to expand and refurbish the operating theatres and intensive care unit.

The Scottish Government has approved the plan and as a result, construction work on the £19million scheme has begun at the rear of the hospital.

The seven existing theatres at the hospital will undergo an extensive refurbishment programme alongside the construction of a new build 10 bed ICU. It will be located on the ground floor between the main building and renal/infectious diseases unit.

Colin Lauder, NHS Lanarkshire head of planning and development and chair of the Monklands Hospital project board, said: "We are delighted the Scottish Government has approved the full business case and that work is now underway to create this state-of-the-art facility.

"Monklands Hospital is the subject of on-going investment through the NHS Lanarkshire Board to ensure all facilities in the hospital are able to support the ever increasing levels of demand for specialist acute clinical care.

"This investment shows our commitment to meeting the needs and aspirations of both patients and staff."

Andrea Fyfe, director of hospital services, said: "Monklands Hospital has seen a lot of improvement works and continued investment in recent times.

"In addition to the theatre and ICU upgrade, work is on-going to create a new £1.8m pathology laboratory and the £22m Lanarkshire Beatson will open later this year.

"This is on top of the investment of over £30m NHS Lanarkshire has made in maintaining the infrastructure at Monklands Hospital over the last six years."