18 October 2012
States Members have been updated on development plans for a new hospital before next week’s States debate on 'A New Way Forward for Health and Social Services' (proposition 82).
The report - 'Hospital pre-feasibility spatial assessment project: Interim Report' - is part of a pre-feasibility study into proposals for a new hospital and was lodged by the Council of Ministers earlier today.
The report has been compiled following detailed work by UK firm WS Atkins International Ltd and local company Currie and Brown, together with senior staff at Health and Social Services and Property Holdings, to determine exactly what would be required of a new hospital.
The case for a new hospital was made in two consultations produced by Health and Social Services, and will take approximately 10 years to deliver once a location is agreed. The interim report provides details of the key findings made by WS Atkins following their review of hospital activity.
Findings include:
- a new hospital would need to increase in size from 38,000 to 64,000 square metres to meet future needs
- a preferred site will be identified by the States in early 2013. This will enable a feasibility study to start and detailed plans to be submitted to the States by the end of 2014
- the capital construction and development costs will be between £389m and £431m
- if proposition 82 is not approved, community services may not be expanded, and the hospital would need to be larger and could cost a further £60m
Council of Ministers support
Commenting on the interim report, Assistant Treasury Minister Deputy Eddie Noel said “The proposition to be debated next week makes it clear that the development of a new or refurbished hospital is central to the transformation of Health and Social Services. Although the current hospital uses space as well as it possibly can, the building suffers from inefficient and ageing design, a lack of flexibility, poor standards of privacy and dignity, and difficulties with infection control.
“If the proposition is not supported next week, community services would not be able to develop as they need to and we would need to build a bigger hospital. This would cost an extra £60 million.
“The Council of Ministers colleagues are fully supportive of the detailed proposals in this proposition. We are on the cusp of a very important moment in history for States Members. We have it in our power to make a decision which will enable the Health Department to transform its services and provide community based health and social care that is sustainable for the long term. We recognise that major changes like this require appropriate funding and detailed work so they can progress."
Minister for Health and Social Services Deputy Anne Pryke added “I am very pleased to see this important interim report so that States Members and Islanders can find out more about why we need a new hospital for Jersey. I hope that next week, this information will allow States Members to make an informed decision, and approve P82, so we can press on with this essential work.”
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