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Care home expansion plan aims to ease hospital bed-blocking

Care home expansion plan aims to ease hospital bed-blocking

Thursday 18 April 2024

Care home expansion plan aims to ease hospital bed-blocking

Thursday 18 April 2024


A St Helier care home could be expanded as part of moves to increase the island's volume of residential accommodation and ease concerns over a "social care supply crisis".

LV Group has applied for planning permission to build seven flats at St Joseph's in St John's Road in what the company hopes will be the first phase of a project that could eventually include more than 40 units.

"The General Hospital currently has over 40 patients 'bed-blocking'"

As part of its application, LV pointed out in a document supporting its application that St Joseph's is currently operating at full capacity and that this is part of a wider issue facing Jersey.

"Despite being a key requirement for older adults, a support framework facility is not available and left out of the important transitional step between expensive full-time residential care and living at home unassisted," the company stated.

"This, in part, has led to a social care supply crisis with all current care homes at maximum capacity, with substantial waiting lists.

"The General Hospital currently has over 40 patients 'bed-blocking' who are fit enough for discharge but cannot return home as no care is available."

Last summer, Jersey's Care Federation said that at least 50 carers were needed to ease the bed-blocking issue.

Hope to help with downsizing

LV added that the proposed scheme, which includes a two-bedroom unit and six one-bedroom flats, would begin to alleviate the pressures on the system and assist older islanders to maintain their independence.

The company believes that by increasing supply of care accommodation, more people would move out of larger homes which would then potentially be available for families and improve the amount of suitable accommodation for younger islanders.

JeanneJugan-Garages-CREDIT-MacArchitects.jpg

Pictured: The planning application included images of some garages at the care home that would be demolished as part of the expansion plan.

LV added that the proposed scheme, which include a two-bedroom unit and six one-bedroom flats, would begin to alleviate the pressures on the system and assist older Islanders to maintain their independence.

The company believes that by increasing supply of care accommodation, more people would move out of larger homes which would then potentially be available for families and improve the amount of suitable accommodation for younger islanders.

"An imaginative, inspiring and innovative proposal"

In March 2023, LV submitted a pre-application document covering a 44-unit scheme.

As part of the current application, the company stated that it has incorporated feedback from the Planning Department to its 2023 submission with regard to design appearance and scale by submitting what it describes as "an imaginative, inspiring and innovative proposal that will not impact the skyline".

JeanneJugan-March23Plans-CREDIT-MacArchitects.jpg

Pictured: The application, submitted by Mac Architects, included a sketch of the draft proposals shared with Planning last year. 

St Joseph's is one of five care homes operated by LV, with the company acquiring the Jeanne Jugan home from the Little Sisters of the Poor in December 2019.

The care group is also behind plans for the island's first 'dementia village' at Plat Douet, which was given the green light in June 2023.

READ MORE...

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50 carers needed to crack bed-blocking struggle

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Hospital remains under pressure as stranded patients block beds

Pictured - top: The Jeanne Jugan home was renamed as St Joseph's following its acquisition by LV Group five years ago.

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