Hospital: Decision time

Hospital: Decision time

Chief Minister John Le Fondré intends to lodge a proposition before Christmas in which the States will be asked whether they endorse the decision made by the previous Assembly to build on the current site in a ‘simple yes or no’ question.

Senator Fondré has previously agreed that the States will make a final decision on the best site and has confirmed that the proposals are in the process of being drafted, with a States debate set to take place early in the new year.

Speculation as to whether the current plans – which are to build a new hospital on the existing site – could be overturned has grown since the new Council of Ministers was formed.

A policy development board set up by the Chief Minister recently found that while it is possible to build on the current site, two other options – the Waterfront and Overdale – should be put back on the table for consideration.

The majority of the panel, chaired by Assistant Chief Minister Chris Taylor, concluded that they were ‘not assured’ that the evidence supported the current plan of building the new hospital on the existing site.

Senator Le Fondré has previously spoken in favour of the Waterfront site.

However, those options are not likely to form part of the proposition and may only come back into play should the States decide to rescind the previously agreed plans.

The Chief Minister said: ‘The game plan is to try to get something lodged before Christmas. That is likely to be a very simple decision as to whether to endorse or rescind the decision of the previous Assembly.

‘We are currently seeking advice on what the right wording is. Whether we put something in the report about alternative sites, I’m not sure yet.’

‘The game plan is to keep it a simple decision which is then consistent with the commitments made during the election [that the States would have final approval].’

If, as planned, Senator Le Fondré does bring his proposition before Christmas then the States will debate the existing site early in the new year.

Health Minister Richard Renouf, who sat on the policy development board, did not agree with the majority of the panel’s findings and has thrown his support behind the existing site.

Senator Le Fondré said the States debate would hopefully decide the fate of the current plans ‘once and for all’.

He added: ‘It will be a go or no go decision. If the States vote one way, then full speed ahead. If they vote the other then we have to limit any impact on the time frame and come back very swiftly on it with alternative options.’

A planning application to build the hospital on the current site remains live and is currently being decided upon by Environment Minister John Young after independent planning inspector Philip Staddon – who reviewed the proposals – sent his finding to the minister earlier this week.

The first application was rejected earlier this year due to concerns over the scale and mass of the building in a built-up town area.

A total of £466 million has been set aside for the hospital project.

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