‘No mention of move to PEH in contract talks’
NO offer was made by the States to house the Medical Specialist Group at the hospital during extensive talks about the new secondary healthcare contract.
Since the MSG announced its intentions last week to move to Park Place, Health & Social Care has argued that instead it should take up the opportunity of relocating to the hospital.
It pays the group some £17m. a year and Policy & Resources president Deputy Gavin St Pier has said that MSG’s plans will financially benefit the doctors, but not be better for the patients.
Secondary healthcare contract negotiations with the States began in earnest in January 2016.
‘So we have been in dialogue with HSC for approximately 21 months,’ the MSG said.
‘At no time has any offer been made to discuss MSG occupying PEH premises. The cost of MSG’s premises was discussed in some detail during contract negotiations and at no time was there any indication that the MSG should be located on HSC’s premises. Indeed MSG premises are referred to as clearly separate and distinct from HSC premises throughout the contract document.’
HSC president Deputy Heidi Soulsby agreed that they did not seek to progress co-location at the PEH during the contract negotiations.
‘However, the crucial context missing is that we were told the MSG was seeking to renegotiate the lease on the purpose-built premises on Alexandra House. As there was no suggestion or expectation of a potential move to a building not currently used for medical purposes, we believed we had more time to jointly progress co-location.
‘Once notified we expressed our concerns, with the chief secretary writing to the MSG. Clearly time is now of the essence, and we’re committed to putting together a viable solution for the MSG.’
Full story in today's Guernsey Press
