Deputy passes out and is taken to PEH

DEPUTY Jane Stephens was hospitalised after passing out during the lunch break of yesterday's States meeting.

The 59-year-old (pictured) had earlier endured a torrid time as deputies picked apart in a hot chamber what her amendment to Treasury and Resources' capital prioritisation programme actually meant.

After sitting down to consult seconder Graham Guille and HM Comptroller Howard Roberts during lunch about whether the amendment actually proposed a list of projects or not, the St Sampson's representative reportedly passed out.

Ambulance sirens were heard shortly before 1pm and a crew was met by Mr Roberts outside the front of the old Royal Court building.

Two ambulance staff checked over Deputy Stephens as she sat in a deserted chamber in one of the seats normally occupied by the Vale representatives.

At about 1.10pm she was carried down the stairs secured to a seat and fanning herself, but she seemed in good spirits.

Deputy Stephens said that she was just going to the ambulance to be checked over and would return for the afternoon.

But at about 1.20pm the door of the ambulance that had been left open closed and it drove off slowly.