Hospital on hold

Thursday 17 January 2019

The Chief Minister has officially put work on developing the island's new Hospital around its current site on hold after the project was refused planning permission for a second time this week.

In an email, he told all States Members that he was working on the issue as a matter of priority and had called on the 'Future Hospital' team to halt work until the next steps have been decided.

It read: 

“Dear Members,
As you will have seen, the Report on the Hospital was published at midday yesterday.
Just to inform you that I will be putting the item to the top of the agenda for the next Council of Ministers meeting as I believe we must now reflect on the report with due consideration. I have asked the Chief Executive to halt work on the current hospital site in the meantime, subject to our decision.

As always if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Best Wishes
John”

It comes after Deputy Russell Labey made the first official moves to stop Ministers having a third attempt at regenerating the current site, which has so far come at a cost of £38million. His proposals are due to be voted on next month.

Based on the recommendations of an independent planning inspector, Environment Minister Deputy John Young concluded on Monday that building on the current site would not be “in the public interest”.

But in the wake of that decision – the second time in just one year that plans for the site had been rejected and amid growing disapproval from the public, medical and political ranks – Ministers declined to take the option off the table.

Pictured: Deputy Russell Labey has brought forward proposals to scrap the town site as a Future Hospital option for good. 

Deputy Labey described the stance as “unacceptable” in a report explaining his proposal to end debate over regenerating the current site for good.

He said: “If ever there was a time for clarity in political direction to the Department for Infrastructure and the Department for Health and Social Services, this is it… Irrespective of planning issues, which will be manifest but different in character whichever site is chosen, for most people Gloucester Street is a compromise too far, and more time will be wasted by a stubborn failure to accept this as fact.

"The Assembly can end this now, take the political decision that only it can take, and ensure that energy is concentrated on a better site that will deliver a better new Hospital."

Meanwhile, a petition calling for a review of alternative hospital sites has been gaining momentum.

Member of the public and hospital campaigner Jean Lelliot's proposals, which argue that "it is not in the best interest of the population to keep spending money" on the current site, have so far gained over 300 signatures.