By ROBBIE DINWOODIE LABOUR leadership hopeful Andy Kerr has been dealt a devastating blow to his campaign by a party stalwart's accusation of "cant and humbug" over the former health minister's role in threatened hospital cuts.

By Lyndsay Moss CONTROVERSIAL plans to close a hospital A&E department were dropped yesterday after a long-running campaign. NHS Lanarkshire agreed to safeguard all three of the area's accident and emergency units, including the threatened one at Monklands Hospital in Airdrie.

PLANS to end the most controversial row about accident and emergency services in Scotland look set to be approved tomorrow. Politicians have been briefed on a scheme which would safeguard all A&E departments in NHS Lanarkshire - including Monklands Hospital in Airdrie.

EVERY casualty consultant in Lanarkshire has called on the government to reject health board plans to remove intensive care facilities from Monklands Hospital's A&E unit.

By DAMIEN HENDERSON ARGUMENTS for downgrading emergency services at Monklands Hospital in Airdrie were roundly rejected at a public meeting last night.