The official opening of Guernsey’s new long awaited Critical Care Unit and Post Anaesthetic Care Unit has been delayed.
The facilities were unveiled last year and the units were meant to be welcoming patients from “early” this year.
However, this week the Health and Social Care President shared his “disappointment” as he confirmed they’re still not ready to be used.
“We hope to officially open the Post Anaesthetic Care and Critical Care Units within the next few months,” said Deputy Al Brouard.
“We had hoped to open in April so naturally we’re disappointed, but it’s crucial that we get this right for patients and staff given the benefits that the new units will bring and that is our focus.”
When it opens, the new Critical Care Unit will have eight beds, although that will eventually grow to 12. The new Post-Anaesthetic Care Unit will have seven more beds for those waiting off the effects.
Deputy Brouard this week said “the States Assembly’s decision to upgrade the hospital site through Phase 1 of the Our Hospital Modernisation programme was essential to meet and future-proof islanders’ health and care needs, both now and in the future”.
But the work has been mired in controversy with civil servants keeping the true costs of the planned work for Phase 2 of the project from deputies as they debated paying for it.
The second phase of work has now been split into two sections – Phase 2a and Phase 2b – to spread the cost out to help the States pay for it.
Deputy Brouard said this wasn’t the original plan but it is working out for the best.
“We are planning to refine our business case for the next phase of work. This is predominantly new build construction and will address key issues, including providing much needed additional theatre capacity, the development of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit/Special Care Baby Unit and improvements in maternity services, as well as improvements to wards and outpatient services.
“The Committee will bring this business case back to the Assembly later this year. While I wouldn’t have predicted this at the time, the phased approach to hospital modernisation will ultimately lead to better outcomes for both patients and clinicians.”
