The works, which were designed by the Percy Thomas Partnership and undertaken by Sir Robert McAlpine[1] at a cost of £100 million,[2] were completed in February 2001.

The level two hospital would have a nurse-led Minor Injuries Unit, along with planned surgery, full diagnostic/outpatient services and general medicine.

[5] The decision to downgrade the hospital was widely criticised, with the former Home Secretary, John Reid MP, voicing his disapproval of the plans.

[11] In November 2017, NHS Lanarkshire renamed all three acute hospitals in the local area to reflect their new university teaching status.

All three Lanarkshire hospitals have an accident and emergency department and specialist medical and surgical services are distributed across the sites.