A local campaign group has penned an open letter to the politician leading the new hospital project to demand answers to several "urgent" questions they have.
Friends of Our New Hospital had this to say to Deputy Chief Minister Senator Lyndon Farnham…
“Dear Senator Farnham,
I write on behalf of the ‘Friends of the New Hospital’ group, in connection with the ongoing ‘New Hospital’ saga and a recent article in the press, in which critics of this governments’ handling of the project are reportedly referred to, by you, as ‘Enemies of our New Hospital’. In addition, suggestions are made to the effect that they (the critics) are responsible for delaying the development of this much needed, essential facility, at a cost to the public of some £100,000/day.
Assuming it to include us (amongst others), this particular critical group wishes to be clear that it always has been, and very much remains, just what our title suggests ‘Friends’ of our new hospital, with the express intention wanting the best hospital and health care system that Jersey can afford to sustain.
It is fair to say that, should the current government have undertaken this project efficiently, openly and honestly, from the outset, we would probably no longer exist. This, most definitely, would have been our preference.
However, from the ultra-vague initial presentation of the proposed new Care Model (which, itself, seems to be having a direct and profound impact on the composition of the new hospital) to the blatantly farcical handling of the hospital site selection process, coupled with a mind-numbing reluctance to reveal any meaningful information at any stage of the process, it has been clear that some form of critical body has remained essential.
Accordingly, it should be made absolutely clear that we, the true ‘Friends’, have no intention of assuming the blame for the incompetence and obfuscation that has led to the current, and ongoing, impasse and a level of confusion and public discontent that generations of Jersey residents have not witnessed in their entire lifetime. Responsibility for the mess that is the ‘Our Hospital Project’ lies squarely at the door of this government and, particularly, with the project’s Political Oversight Group.
With all of that in mind, many questions remain unanswered, and we believe it would be much in the public interest if you, the Chairman of that body, would be kind enough to furnish the public with answers to the following questions -
We look forward to your urgent response.
With thanks and kind regards,
Stephen Regal
on behalf of the Friends of Our New Hospital