The Scrutiny Management Committee said that it had given Health & Social Care 12 months to get these projects on track, but now felt that it needed to move to a formal scrutiny process.
Dedicated review panels will be established to examine each programme independently from the autumn. The reviews will assess the management, governance and political oversight of each programme with a particular focus on intended outcomes, benefits realisation, value for money and whether appropriate arrangements are in place to support successful delivery.
‘These are among the largest and most significant public sector projects ever undertaken in Guernsey,’ said Scrutiny president Andy Sloan.
‘Together they involve many tens of millions of pounds of public money, with further substantial investment still to come.
‘Over the past year we have deliberately given Health & Social Care the opportunity to get these projects onto a firmer footing before commencing formal scrutiny. Throughout that period we have sought regular updates and engaged constructively with the committee.
‘That period of engagement should now give way to independent examination. Our focus is straightforward – whether the governance, political oversight and programme management arrangements are robust; whether the programmes are delivering the outcomes and benefits that were intended; and whether islanders are receiving value for the substantial sums of public money being invested.’
Phase 1 of the hospital modernisation project was estimated to cost £34m. but the project has experienced delays and additional costs while the new critical care facility remains incomplete and has yet to open.
It is estimated that another £2m. will be needed to be spent to address fire safety defects on the unit.
The second phase of the project is due to be completely rethought, with costs said to be ‘out of control’, with Health & Social Care looking at what could be delivered for £130m., close to the original £120m. budget.
It was due to include four new operating theatres, new maternity, neonatal, paediatric and private wards, a new intensive care unit, an admissions and discharge unit, outpatients area and main entrance, along with the refurbishment of four theatres, sterile services, orthopaedics, the breast unit, emergency department, fracture clinic and overnight accommodation.
The States has already invested more than £20m. in the current phase of the EPR system, with further phases requiring substantial additional investment before the programme is complete.
Deputy Sloan said that both projects were part of one of the largest commitments of public money currently being undertaken by the States and would require significant further investment in the years ahead.
As a result Scrutiny saw formal independent reviews as being both ‘timely and appropriate’.
The committee said it would soon be looking to recruit people with relevant expertise for the patient record system project panel, and States members interested in serving alongside the SMC for the modernisation programme.
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