Monklands Hospital, one of the hospitals where services could change

People will be asked to comment on whether Monklands Hospital in Airdrie or Hairmyres in East Kilbride should lose its casualty consultants.

The chosen hospital would be left with an accident and emergency service led by nurses.

Wishaw will keep its full A&E staff regardless of the outcome.

But the decision on which of the area's three hospitals to put forward for cuts could prove a problem for officials and local politicians.

Local politicians

Wishaw General is in First Minister Jack McConnell's constituency and Hairmyres in East Kilbride is in the area represented by Health Minister Andy Kerr.

Monklands is in the Westminister constituency of the former Health Secretary John Reid.

A three-month public consultation period will begin in January when people can comment about the plans.

Lanarkshire's 500,000-strong population has one of the worst health records in Scotland.

NHS Lanarkshire chief executive Tim Davison said: "With the investment and development in community services and a reconfiguration of hospital services we believe we can achieve real benefits to patients in terms of their health outcomes and quality of life."

It is proposed that additional services would be developed in Lanark, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Biggar and Douglas to treat patients with minor injuries and illnesses.