Require a Health Strategy before any further healthcare sites are developed

The ‘inaction’, or perhaps ‘mis-action’ around the Hospital over decades now has been one of the greatest frustrations of islanders, and has likely driven voter apathy in the Assembly.

‘Perfect is the enemy of progress’, and delivering massive new infrastructure like a Hospital on a constrained island forces unpopular decisions, or lack of. We have seen various reasons to ’not build’, but this has to stop.

It is understandable why we have ended up where we have, but that should be a lesson not to repeat, and instead to make decisions and deliver for the island.

Overdale

The Acute hospital at Overdale must not be delayed or changed for political purposes. The proposals are acceptable, the planning achieved, the land purchased, and the ground works prepared. We must support the relevant minister to contract on delivery, but also ensure we do not accept an unfavourable contract.

What comes after Overdale?

As a member of the Hospital Review Scrutiny Panel, I have had the chance to follow the Minister and his team’s work on the wider ‘New Healthcare Facilities Programme’.

Whilst we should support Overdale and its construction, I have some uncertainty over the wider plan for other healthcare facilities.

The current model is that of “multi-site” facilities, with other sites including;

• Enid Quenault Health and Wellbeing Centre

• Glouchester Street (and Kensington Place)

• St Saviour (and its proposed Health Village)

• Samares at St Ewolds Rehabilitation Unit

The plans are to redevelop Kensington Place and develop a ‘village’ around St. Saviour’s facilities to the north of La Rue De La Hougue Bie.

Not only must we be thinking about capital cost, we must ensure that Government is providing the correct services. This growing footprint of health will need staffing, and staff accommodation and a workforce plan must be understood.

Do we need to deliver the services proposed at St. Saviour instead of co-locating with ambulatory facilities in town? Do the plans still require the space retained in Kensington Place now that we are retaining Enid Quenault for longer than originally planned?

Work on sustainable healthcare funding seems to have slowed in the past few years, and this should be understood prior to new sites being developed.

All the questions about Healthcare sites should fall within a well understood and consulted strategy, before more money is spent on architects, planners, consultants and land.