30 July 2010
The second phase of the major refurbishment of a hospital ward for dementia patients has the go-ahead thanks to fiscal stimulus funding.
The £2 million project at Rosewood House will modernise the building and upgrade both infection control and health and safety features. Patients’ comfort and staff working conditions will also be improved by the renovations.
The Treasury Minister has allocated £1,891,202 to Jersey Property Holdings and £162,963 to the Health and Social Services department, which will provide additional nursing staff across two sites while the project is underway. The first phase of the project was to repair Overdale’s McKinstry Ward, where patients will be cared for while Rosewood House is being refurbished.
Directorate Manager for the Mental Health Service, Ian Dyer, said: ”Rosewood House has needed updating for some years. The unit will be fitted with modern fire safety measures and other improvements to reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infection. Without fiscal stimulus funding, improvements to Rosewood House would have been deferred until other funding was identified.”
Sharon Pentony, Team Leader for Rosewood House, said: “This is an exciting time which has been long awaited by staff, patients and relatives and will provide a new and pleasant environment for all concerned.”
Treasury Minister Senator Philip Ozouf said: “The injection of fiscal stimulus cash into the economy is supporting the construction sector and, from the most recent business trends survey, the signs are that the construction industry is looking more confident. While it remains too early to see this as a trend, it is no doubt thanks, in part, to the additional public sector commitment to projects through the fiscal stimulus programme.
“£28 million of fiscal stimulus funded construction (including civil) projects have now received the green light, and this support for the construction industry will also benefit other sectors, like retail, as the money feeds through the economy.”
gov.je