Senator John Le Fondré made the comments in the States on Thursday following a question from Deputy Steve Luce.
‘The suggestion of using a hotel, on the basis of the medical advice that we have had, is that that remains definitely not an option because firstly the advice is that it needs to be close to the Hospital and, secondly, you want quite a large floor-plate. You do not want individual rooms,’ he said.
‘Essentially this is around staffing capably and effectively. I think it is what they call a “Nightingale” ward style, if you are going down a field hospital option.
‘The option is being looked at actively and I should receive an update on either Friday or Monday and, as far as I am aware, that [a hotel] is a no-go decision.’
Deputy Luce then raised concern over the lack of time to set up a field hospital and asked the Chief Minister whether he would be treating the issue as a matter of urgency.
‘I absolutely agree with the Deputy. That is why I am expecting an update [at the] latest on Monday. Officers have been working on it. It is one of a number of avenues that they have been exploring about extra bed capacity,’ Senator Le Fondré said.
‘I agree absolutely on the urgency of getting that matter resolved.’
Meanwhile, an order for 12 ventilators made on 19 March is still being ‘chased’ by the government, the Health Minister has said.
Deputy Richard Renouf made the comments yesterday following a question from Deputy Kevin Pamplin about when the equipment would arrive in the Island.
Deputy Renouf said an arrival date had not yet been set.
‘The only update I can give is that they are being constantly chased. The order has been acknowledged. We are chasing delivery as soon as possible,’ he said.
