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Nearly two hundred additional staff will need to be employed by Health and Social Care if the second phase of the hospital redevelopment plans go ahead, while nearly 100 additional staff will be needed even if the plans aren't progressed.
Ahead of the debate on the States capital prioritisation plans, Deputy Neil Inder has tried to clarify what associated costs there may be if the island spends millions of pounds upgrading and modernising the Princess Elizabeth Hospital.
President of HSC, Deputy Al Brouard has confirmed that the plans show that by 2030 HSC would need to increase staff by another 185 people. That would be across various areas and skillsets.
However, he said half of those staff will be needed even if the multi million pound plans aren't progressed due to the nature of challenges facing health services.
Pictured: Deputy Al Brouard.
"The staffing level required by 2030, according to the modelling used within the Outline Business Case, shows an increase in the number of staff needed by approximately 185," said Deputy Brouard, adding:
"Please note that even without the development of Phase 2, the expected increase in staffing required to cope with the demand pressures is modeled at 92. This is just to cope with the increasing demand for services and staff will need to manage within infrastructure that is not built to service such an increase in demand. This will result in significantly increased risks and an unacceptable working environment."
HSC is trying to convince other States members to back their plans. The second phase is currently listed as a 'pipeline' project meaning Policy and Resources does not think it should go ahead yet. P&R estimates it will cost £154million.
On top of that, HSC has confirmed that if the redevelopment goes ahead, and the additional 185 staff are employed to manage the extended hospital, then the wage bill will increase by up to £10m a year.
Deputy Inder has asked where those staff will live, which may also cost the States additional money through other committee's budgets.
Pictured: The former CI Tyres site is one being redeveloped for key worker housing.
Deputy Al Brouard said that while HSC is not responsible for housing matters and where staff live is "essentially outside of its control", he is aware that "work is progressing via the Affordable Housing Development Programme in respect of additional new accommodation for key workers.
"The first of these will be the Domaine des Moulins site which is the former CI Tyres site and plans are in place for approximately 54 units of accommodation to be completed during early 2026. This will be before the completion of the ‘Our Hospital Modernisation’ Programme Phase 2 development."
Additional plans to build key worker accommodation are being progressed at the Fontaine Vinery and Parc Le Lacheur (formerly known as Kenilworth Vinery) sites, which are due to be developed in phases between 2025-2030.
Deputy Al Brouard also brought up the much-discussed field on the PEH campus.
"...as is already well-documented, a suitable site has been identified on the PEH campus, in the field known as ‘Le Bordage Seath’, which could be developed to provide a significant number of units for key worker accommodation," he said. "This would more than support the additional staff required for Phase 2."
Pictured: HSC made three additional points regarding recruitment.
Deputy Brouard said the decision on whether or not the PEH modernisation plan is progressed should not rely on what accommodation is available for staff who will be needed over the coming years.
"...the availability of accommodation is an important factor in ensuring there are staff in place to support key services across all sectors, not just in health and social care. If accommodation is not delivered as necessary then services across the States, not just for the running of Phase 2, will struggle."
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