Graham Simpson MSP challenged Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care Angela Constance over the continuing uncertainty surrounding the new Monklands Hospital.
The Scottish Government rejected the previous £2.1 billion proposal on the grounds that it did not represent value for money.
However, Graham highlighted that NHS Lanarkshire had been given no indication of what budget the Scottish Government would consider acceptable.
He questioned whether the health board could spend further time and money developing a smaller hospital proposal, only for rising costs and inflation to result in its rejection once again.
Graham asked a straightforward question: why won’t the Scottish Government tell NHS Lanarkshire what budget it should be working to?
Angela Constance acknowledged that it was a fair question and accepted that an agreed financial framework would be needed. However, she said the health board should be allowed to continue developing revised proposals, which she wanted to receive by the middle of 2027.
The exchange highlighted the continuing uncertainty over the cost and delivery of the new hospital for the people of Lanarkshire.