Hospital project's next phase paused over cost fears

Thursday 26 January 2023

The brakes have been put on Health & Social Services hospital modernisation project after the plans for the next phase came in at £15m more than had been budgeted.

In December, the committee’s President, Deputy Al Brouard went to Policy & Resources for sign off on the second phase of the project with the intention of work beginning next year.

It includes a three-floor extension to be built where the main entrance is, outpatients facility, new women's and children's ward, new private patients ward and new orthopaedic facilities, a refurbished and extended theatre suite, a new admissions and discharge unit and an extended Emergency Department.

Policy & Resources president Peter Ferbrache revealed the rising costs in the States and confirmed that it had deferred a decision on whether to sign off the project until after the Assembly had decided what it was going to do on tax.

"We may be saying it's a decision too big for us, to come back to the States and the States is going to have to decide whether it's going to go ahead with phase two or not," said Deputy Ferbrache as he outlined cost pressures in health.

Pictured: The previously approved phased plans for the hospital development.

Under the plans agreed by the States in March 2019, the hospital was to be updated in phases.

Construction on the first, which includes a new critical care unit and theatre recovery ward, started later than scheduled in March after problems caused by covid.

When it was proposed, the entire project was expected to cost between £72.3m. and £93.4m. over 10-years.