The fate of the former Victorian ‘lunatic asylum’ and the controversial long-stay wards for the elderly at Westmount is to be reviewed this summer. Both occupy prime sites for developers although any sale is likely to be heavily scrutinised following criticism of the deal over the Jersey College for Girls site. The price agreed for the sale of the Rouge Bouillon building has been heavily criticised after a developer said that he would happily have paid considerably more than the agreed £1.8 million, plus a share of the money for future sales of homes on the site. Standards at Overdale have been much criticised, not least by Health Minister Stuart Syvret, who has long said that some of the buildings are not fit for their purpose. Places are being found in private nursing homes for patients who would have been treated at Overdale. Health chief executive Mike Pollard confirmed that the two hospitals were going to be the subject of discussions this summer. He explained that States properties had been placed into three categories: those that were no longer required, those whose future was up for discussion and those which would not be put on the market, such as the General Hospital. Mr Pollard said that St Saviour’s and Overdale were in the second category.
Jersey Evening Post
