Don't ignore the People's Park - Senior Doctors

Monday 22 February 2016

Senior consultants at Jersey's hospital are urging the States not to support moves to take the People's Park off the list for a new hospital site.

On the eve of one of the most controversial States debates in recent years, Mr Richard Downes, Deputy Medical Director and Dr Peter Southall who is the the Associate Medical Director, have taken the unprecedented step of publishing an open letter asking the Island's politicians to keep all four potential sites open for consultation.

The possibility of buying the Park from the parish, and building a new hospital there, has prompted substantial public opposition, with a fiery meeting at the Town Hall, and further demonstrations planned for this morning, and tomorrow in Royal Square.

That's when States Members are due to debate a plan from the town Constable, Simon Crowcroft, to remove the People's Park from the list of potential hospital sites, leaving the current site, the Waterfront and Overdale as the only options for the new development, which could cost up to £630m. 

But over the weekend, two senior hospital officials published this letter:

"We, the undersigned, confirm our support for consideration of all four site options (without discounting any at this stage) for the Future Hospital (sic) in the forthcoming period of public consultation. The choice of the best site for the Hospital is the most important decision we will help make for our patients. Our priority is to achieve the highest quality healthcare for the people of Jersey.

 Yours faithfully,

 Mr Richard Downes, Deputy Medical Director and Dr Peter Southall, Associate Medical Director, on behalf of the Medical Director and Clinical Directors."

Their letter follows the news that Ministers believe the People's Park is, “...the best-performing short-listed option in relation to clinical efficiency” and, “...the short-listed site requiring the lowest capital investment."

Constable Crowcroft has urged ministers to just "come clean", and admit that it is the Park which they want to build on. 

“There has been a lack of clarity – they need to come clean about the whole process because it’s not clear at the moment,” he said.

“It’s not clear whether they are going to give weight to public opinion. They didn’t give much weight to the anti-GST petition, which I also brought to the States.

“How can this be called engagement? It is an unfortunate choice of words when the Council of Ministers seem so disengaged and out of step with public feeling.”

Also on Tuesday, ministers will face a barrage of questions before the debate begins, with six questions listed to ministers covering how the cost will be met, how the consultation process was put together, whether they will stick to a decision by the Parish Assembly, the possible process for a compulsory purchase of the site, the cost of the current “public engagement” exercise” and demanding a full breakdown of costs.