Letter to the Editor: Demolish Fort Regent and build new hospital

The advantages would include a clear base on which a hospital, copied from one of the best designs of hospitals recently constructed in the world, could be built. Our current hospital consultants and staff should be permitted to have their say on this proposal. A helipad could be constructed and an air ambulance service set up. Materials could be imported and exported, where convenient, by helicopter and drones. Car parking is already on site and there may be room to include staff accommodation in any plans. This would be an asset in

attracting much-needed nursing staff.

Fresh air and lack of noise are both conducive to patient recovery and a Fort Regent site would provide both of these. To build adjacent to the present hospital is, to my mind, insane. The noise would be intolerable, as the current hospital is not soundproofed and even the squawking of seagulls penetrates the walls, let alone pneumatic drills and other construction work sounds. The windows and air-conditioning ducts would have to be kept closed to keep out dust pollution. This would be unbearable in hot weather.

Other than Fort Regent, the old St Saviour’s Hospital site or even Haut de la Garenne, would be preferable. As to the latter, what better use for a place that ruined lives to be converted to one that saves them.

This is too great a project for settlement by a group of short-term politicians or one individual, some of whom may well be subject to myopic vision, vested interests and cronyism. Let our current hospital consultants and staff, supported by architects and civil engineers, make the final decision. We certainly do not want any contamination of the likes of the ‘Jersey Way’.

– Advertisement –
– Advertisement –