Both HSC and Rihoys have refused to comment on the reasons behind the ongoing delays with opening Guernsey’s new hospital wing.
Building work finished last year but staff are still unable to treat patients in the new ‘Post Anaesthetic Care and Critical Care Units’.
Costing more than £30million the units were originally due to be ready for use by last Autumn. However, last August it was announced that it was running “within budget, but a few months late”.
Last week, Health and Social Care confirmed that the wing still isn’t ready to open – nearly a year on.
A spokesperson said “remedial works” are continuing in the brand new units.
“The opening of Princess Elizabeth Hospital’s new Post Anaesthetic Care and Critical Care Units will, sadly but unavoidably, continue to be delayed until essential remedial works have been completed,” the spokesperson said on Friday 27 June.
“These have taken longer than anticipated but we are continuing to work with the contractor to get this resolved.”
The contractor involved in the multi-million pound project is Rihoy & Son.
Express asked both HSC and Rihoy & Son for any further comment on the delays to the new wings being opened and both declined.
HSC’s former President, now retired-Deputy Al Brouard was previously photographed in the new wing when the building work was originally finished.
He had said in March this year that the new wing should be open for patients “within the next few months”.
Deputy Brouard’s replacement as HSC President is due to be elected by the new States today.
Deputy Marc Leadbeater; last term’s HSC Vice-President, and Deputy George Oswald; a non-States member on HSC last term, are expected to be front runners for the post.
Whoever gets the job will have to take on the delayed Critical Care Unit project as one of their many priorities in overseeing all Health and Social Care services across the Bailiwick.
The new units are intended to increase surgical capacity locally, and help manage the ever-increasing demand, when they are ready for use.
When it opens the wing will have eight beds, although that will eventually grow to 12. It will also help provide a new Post-Anaesthetic Care Unit, providing seven more beds for those waiting off the effects.