‘Delaying PEH modernisation will impact on general care’

Deputy Al Brouard was disappointed that Policy & Resources’ proposals would sideline phase two of the multi-million pound project, despite preparatory work being well under way.

But he was hopeful that fighting for it would see the project to completed on track by 2029.

‘It’s now a question of putting our best case forward to the other deputies,’ he said.

‘The impact that this will have on general care can only be negative.

‘Ultimately it will be the States that decides what happens.’

The second phase of redevelopment at the PEH was originally due to start in 2024. It includes a new entrance space, new children’s, paediatric and maternity units, four new operating theatres, doubling private ward space and a new orthopaedics unit.

Deputy Brouard said his next move was to talk to P&R and persuade them to not put the project into the pipeline, which would delay it. If that was unsuccessful, he hoped P&R would put forward several options to deputies, so they could choose which projects to back.

If this also failed, he planned to lay an amendment to save the project’s schedule.

Deputy Brouard said that the redevelopment had been in the works for 10 years, and any decision to delay the project now would have an adverse effect on the 2,500 staff involved in it.

‘We have sent out an email to all the doctors, nurses and other staff today reaffirming our position that the work is absolutely necessary due to the range of benefits it will provide,’ he said.

‘Staff have been heavily involved in the planning up until now and are concerned and worried about the latest announcement. I hope for their sake that it can somehow still go ahead as planned.’

A hospital that is better prepared for a pandemic, increased modernisation and flexibility, reduced backlogs and a better overall patient experience were some of the benefits that would come from completion of the redevelopment, according to Deputy Brouard.

Preparatory work for the second phase is already under way, with updated electricity cables and new water tanks already installed ready for the expanded hospital.

‘We’ve spent £7.5m. so far, and we have all the builders and contractors in place.

‘It’s a big disappointment considering everything is ready to go,’ he said.

Health Equality for All president Mike Read was also disappointed by P&R’s proposal to put a hold on the redevelopment, and questioned why other projects, such as the transformation of post-16 education, had been prioritised instead.

‘It’s disappointing, and it doesn’t make sense,’ he said.

‘There is very little detail about who is going to build the proposed new sixth form centre at Les Ozouets and how much it is going to cost.’

Mr Read added that he saw little point in deferring the PEH’s redevelopment, particularly when a delay would likely impact any approach to combatting current waiting lists for treatment.

‘They’ve said that the work will become a “pipeline project”. If that’s the case I doubt anything will be done about it until the next States comes in in 2025,’ he said.