New £466million hospital to be built on present site

Thursday 01 December 2016

States members voted 34-3 today to build the new hospital on the present site, with work set to start next year on the biggest capital project ever undertaken by Jersey's government.

Earlier, they voted by a resounding 29-9 to reject the Waterfront as a potential site - and it means work starting on the new hospital will start in 2017, five years after it was first mooted.

Health Minister Andrew Green said the new hospital would be a "proud and vital" addition to Jersey's healthcare, especially with projections that the population is set to increase sharply. 

Senator Green said: "It will benefit all the Island and for generations to come. I think it is a landmark day for Jersey and for healthcare in the Island. 

"The fact that the population in the Island and in particular the elderly, means that this new hospital is needed now more than ever. It makes the need for it even more acute.

"This will be a great day for the people of Jersey who will benefit from a brand new hospital fit for the 21st century and fit for their needs and requirements."  

Infrastructure Minister Eddie Noel said: "The groundswell of public opinion is 'just got on with it and I sympathise with that emotion. 

"We have considered 50 other sites over the past five years or so and have followed a process of robust assessment and consultation and we have finally arrived at a preferred site. 

"We need a new hospital as soon as possible. We were in danger of being perceived as unable to make a decision, by the general public. We have come to the point where we have to make a decision."

Earlier in the day an amendment was presented to the States by Constable Chris Taylor who said the Waterfront site should have been in the running for the location of the new hospital.

But his amendment was heavily rejected after a lengthy debate and the present hospital location has now been rubber-stamped as the site of the new building.

Chief Minister Ian Gorst gave his backing to the site identified by Health Minister Andrew Green as the best option for the new hospital – in its current location. 

Senator Gorst said: “We want to make a positive decision to deliver a safe, efficient and modern hospital to deliver the care which we know will be needed in the future and I ask members to reject this amendment.

“I am sorry it has taken so long to get here today, but if we want to go ahead as soon as we can, we have to act.

“The truth of the matter is there is no ideal site in Jersey for the new hospital that we need to build. That is one of the frustrations that members have verbalised during this debate and during previous considerations.

“Only last night someone said to me I still don’t understand why it can’t be at St Saviour. Failing that why don’t you put it on a green zone somewhere as they do in England. The truth is there is no ideal site that does not have a drawback and it may be transport, access, height, taking away green space, or even removing a park.

“When we step back from all the work and all the conversations and all the work of the experts, people have said, why can’t you just built it on the existing site.”

But Constable Taylor said a recent report by project management experts Concerto backed the Waterfront as the best site for the new hospital.

He said: “The biggest problem here is we don’t listen to the experts. The site which is the cheapest and has the lowest risk delivery, from our own experts, is the Waterfront. I have read the report and I support the experts.

“The Waterfront site is 60% larger than the currently preferred site. In salary terms if you get £45,00 a year you will be getting £75,000 a year.

“The argument goes that the current hospital preferred site works because of the car park, which means you can drive next door to the hospital. But that’s not true because Patriotic Street is currently full. We are going to have to make Patriotic Street two, three, four or even six times bigger.

“I’m a farmer and I know what promises from Ministers are like because throughout my entire career I have listened to promises and then at Christmas we had spam and no turkey. That’s why everyone should be given both sides and then we can make an informed decision. It is purely about this assembly making decisions, rather than just rubber stamping ready-made decisions.”

The amendment was defeated and the current site will now be the location of the new hospital, which will cost Islanders at least £466m, part of which will be a £400m bond - which could put the overall cost over 40 years to £800m-plus.