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The reopening of Samarès Ward at Overdale as the home of rehabilitation services has been put back until next month due to staff shortages.
The ward was due to reopen before the end of July, and had been earmarked for tomorrow, but has been delayed by three weeks until 10 August.
The previous government decided to move the centre for rehabilitation – where stroke and head injury survivors and other patients in need of long-term care work to restore function and mobility – from Plémont Ward at the Hospital back to Overdale after a passionate public outcry earlier this year.
Rehabilitation services were based at Samarès Ward until May 2020, when they were moved to Gloucester Street in order to make room for expected covid patients.
It was then decided to keep rehabilitation on Plémont Ward until the new hospital was built at Overdale.
However, patients and their families complained of a deterioration of services, including a lack of privacy, poorer equipment and fewer private rooms.
Former States Member Steve Pallett brought a proposition calling on rehabilitation to return to Samarès Ward. The government initially resisted but, on the eve of a States debate in January, it said that it would review its decision.
In March, past Health Minister announced the government’s plan: move rehabilitation back to Samarès Ward until the end of 2022 while Plémont Ward undergoes significant modifications to improve facilities for patients.
This would then allow Samarès Ward to be demolished to make way for the new hospital. However, the future of the Our Hospital project is now uncertain following the election of a new government, many of whom were critical of the plans, including Chief Minister Kristina Moore.
She has appointed Infrastructure Minister Tom Binet to conduct a review of the Our Hospital project, to report back to the States no later than 20 October.
Although she is waiting for that report, Deputy Moore has said that she thought it unlikely that the plans would continue in their current form.
On the reopening of Samarès Ward, Health Minister Karen Wilson said: “I would like to update the public that there will be a slight delay to the re-opening of the Rehabilitation Unit at Overdale to allow time to finalise staffing arrangements.
“I have instructed officers that the ward must be re-opened by 10 August.
“I would like to thank all staff working on the re-opening of the ward for their work. In the meantime, I will continue to meet with patients and wider stakeholders to understand their views on the ward’s reopening.
"I look forward to visiting the ward on 10 August.”
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