Hospital modernisation is delayed until early 2022

The three-phase project, which was expected to cost between £72.3m. and £93.4m.over 10-years, was due to start in October, with phase one set to come in at just over £44m. and involve the extension of Ozanne Ward to create a theatre recovery and critical care unit.

Hospital modernisation director Jan Coleman said the schedule had now changed.

‘There will be a slight delay to commencing construction of the first phase of our hospital modernisation,’ she said.

‘Building work of the new critical care unit and post anaesthetic care unit is now due to start in early 2022.

‘The short delay is due partly to ongoing challenges posed by Covid restrictions, which has held up some preparatory work. Aside of that, we needed to wait until the outcome of the Government Work Plan debate in July before fully proceeding.

‘But we have full support to progress the full hospital modernisation and everything remains on track to imminently commence these essential upgrades to our hospital.’

The need for the hospital to expand has been highlighted this year, when the hospital faced bed shortages and at one stage Health & Social Care called for non-essential cases to be kept away.

A planning application has now been submitted for a temporary compound to house construction materials and equipment associated with the construction works.

It is intended that the compound would be required for all three phases.

It is proposed to be on land which is part of a shallow valley bounded by a small stream on the west side and the hospital complex to the east, off Rue de la Corbiere, behind the existing empty border agency building. It is owned by the States of Guernsey and is currently leased by a dairy farmer.

‘The key rationale to its location on the site is to reduce unnecessary additional traffic flow on the critical blue light route of the Rue Rondel and to minimise disruption to BAU on the hospital campus,’ the planning application states.

‘By incorporating the existing customs building as part of the proposals, new construction is minimised, and all proposals remain temporary – needed only for as long as the construction process requires. Detailed reinstatement methods for restoring the agricultural field are included in Environment Guernsey’s Ecological Assessment Report.’

While phase one of the project has been approved by the States, HSC will have to return to the Assembly to seek funding for phases two and three.

The project will include the creation of a new critical care facility, a new 21-bay admissions and discharge unit and a new orthopaedic ward.

The Emergency Department will also be remodelled, with separate entrances and treatment areas for major medical emergencies compared to minor issues, which along with an overnight decision unit will help triage and reduce unnecessary admissions from the ED into the hospital.