Waterfront, or present site for hospital? The final debate begins….

Thursday 01 December 2016

The battle lines were drawn yesterday in the fight to determine where Jersey’s new £466million hospital will be situated.

Health Minister Andrew Green is strongly in favour of the present site and yesterday appealed to States members to back his stance.

But Constable Chris Taylor says the Waterfront location is much better suited for the new site and the States yesterday adjourned before taking a vote on the issue.

Senator Green said: “This is a very important day as we reach a milestone in the history of the new hospital. Today we can get the ball rolling on a project which will mean a positive legacy for many generations to come. We need a new hospital and one that is fit for purpose, affordable and sustainable and we need to get on with it.

“I am absolutely delighted to propose the preferred site for the future hospital. In the past five years a total of 41 sites have been reviewed. After five years of work we now have a preferred site. I hope members will agree the matter has been batted back and forth ad thoroughly reviewed.   

“The preferred site future offers so much more flexibility for expansion that is not available on the Waterfront site.  

“The project team have to work on the best data. One of the advantages of the preferred site is that we can respond to future generations.

“It allows for the development of a health care campus. This may be an approach that is new to States members but in other jurisdictions this approach has provided the foundation for the re-generation of local communities. There will be health-related retail space, private practices, community care and pharmacies. Such services will all operating within the campus and such an approach provides opportunities for the delivery of public services in the future.    

“It is not beyond our imagination to see Parade Gardens as a therapeutic, healing green space playing its own part in the lifeblood of the healthcare campus. St Helier will be transformed in a positive way.”

Constable Taylor opposes the preferred site, saying the Waterfront is a far better option.

He said: “I would like to make it clear that I am in favour of a new hospital. I want the best for Jersey. This is where the Minister and I disagree.

“The Waterfront is the cheapest, quickest and lowest risk option. It is also, according to a poll of the general public, the most popular site. So why is the Minister looking for the second best site? I can only surmise, but the Minister has said ‘I have always wanted the new hospital on the present site.’ I originally agreed with him, but having seen the evidence and looked at it I overcame my prejudice and I realised the best site is the Waterfront.

“There are six lanes of traffic between the car park and the Waterfront site, but presentations have shown that road is to be sunk and therefore there will be continuity straight from the car park to the Waterfront hospital. Access to the hospital will be very easy.

"By building on the Waterfront I believe it will be quicker and will be providing a simply better option."

The debate continues today.