The ongoing work at the new critical care unit at the PEH is costing around £3million on top of the money already spent building it.
It has still not opened – and is unlikely to open before next year – despite the original building work being finished early last year.
It needs ongoing remedial work to meet building standards, with the original plans not meeting current fire safety regulations.
Deputy Gavin St Pier had asked the President of Health and Social Care about the spiralling costs during a recent States debate, but Deputy George Oswald did not have the accounts to hand.
HSC has now confirmed that up to £3.2m is being spent on the new wing, on top of the original build costs of £34m.
The building was handed over to the States in 2025, but it immediately needed remedial work with contractor Rihoy & Son covering the £1.2m bill, according to HSC.
Extra work needed to meet the current fire safety regulations is being funded by the States, with HSC having to spend between £1-£2m on that, it has now also confirmed.
“The forecast cost to the States of Guernsey of the delay to the opening of the Critical Care and Post-Anaesthesia Care Units in Phase 1 of the Our Hospital Modernisation Programme, due to the need for the contractor to undertake remedial works relating to firestopping, is £1.2m,” explained HSC.
“This forecast cost includes the need to extend the internal project support team and advisory services through the period of contractor remedial works, including the bring into use period.
“These forecast costs are separate from the cost of the additional works related to fire protection that are required to ensure full compliance with current fire safety regulations which were highlighted in the President of the Committee for Health & Social Care’s statement in the States of Deliberation on 20th May 2026. This will increase project costs, which are still to be finalised, but are expected to be about £1m-£2 million and will need to be funded by the States of Guernsey.”
The new Critical Care Unit was built to increase surgical capacity locally, and help manage the ever-increasing demand, when it is ready for use.
When it eventually opens it is expected to have eight beds, as per the original plans – although that was intended to increase to 12.
It will also help provide a new Post-Anaesthetic Care Unit, providing seven more beds for those waiting off the effects of surgery.
