The saga of Jersey’s new hospital has been running for almost a decade-and-a-half.
There does appear to be some light at the end of the tunnel, with a planning application for the new acute facility at Overdale approved and a preferred tenderer to carry out the work – Bouygeus UK – in place.
But the latest twist has seen Health Minister Tom Binet admit that the proposed Ambulatory Facility at Kensington Place may need a rethink.
He said: “Given the time elapsed since then, and recognising the continual evolution of healthcare, especially digital healthcare, it has been essential to review and agree any changes in clinical requirements or service configuration needed to best support the health needs of the people of Jersey.”
As a result, the health services to be delivered from the Kensington Place Ambulatory Facility are “yet to be fully confirmed.”
Here is how the hospital development has unfolded:
May 2012 – Health Minister Anne Pryke announced that the Island will need a new hospital within ten years.
July 2013 – A two-site project is put forward on the current site and at Overdale. The two-site plan is later dismissed by Health officials.
February 2016 – Health Minister Andrew Green unveils a four-site shortlist of where the new Hospital could be built – the current site, Overdale, the Waterfront and the People’s Park.
December 2016 – The States agree to build the new Hospital on the existing Gloucester Street site.
December 2017 – Funding proposals are finally agreed, which will see the States borrow up to £275 million and fund the rest of the project through the Strategic Reserve.
January 2018 – A planning application for Gloucester Street is rejected by then-Environment Minister Steve Luce, who cited concerns over the size and scale of the project.
January 2019 – A second planning application for Gloucester Street is rejected by Environment Minister John Young.
February 2019 – The States rescinds the decision to redevelop the Gloucester Street hospital site and also rules out building on the People’s Park and surrounding areas.
November 2020 – Members give approval for Overdale as the preferred site for the new hospital following a debate in the States Assembly.
May 2021 – The Our Hospital team unveil the first glimpse of what the proposed building could look like.
February 2022 – Plans to raze all buildings at Overdale are unanimously rejected by the Planning Committee.
May 2022 – Environment Minister John Young grants conditional approval for the Hospital project at Overdale after independent planning inspector Philip Staddon, who recommended the build for approval.
September 2022 – Following the election and change of government, rising cost concerns prompt a government review of the project.
November 2022 – The review concluded that the single-site hospital at Overdale was no longer achievable within the approved funding envelope of £804.5 million. A recommendation for a phased, multi-site scheme across Overdale, Kensington Place and the existing hospital site at Gloucester Street Hospital is made.
February 2023 – The New Healthcare Facilities Programme is formally launched as a replacement for the previous Our Hospital project. The government presents a report to the States Assembly outlining the new multi-site, phased development strategy.
December 2023 – Demolition work of the dilapidated healthcare buildings at the back of the Overdale site begins.
March 2024 – The first designs of Jersey’s new acute hospital at Overdale are unveiled.
February 2025 – The Planning Committee unanimously signs off on plans for the hospital, allowing work to begin.
November 2025 – Bouygues UK is confirmed as the preferred contractor to carry out the work for the acute hospital at Overdale, with work expected to start before next summer.