Islanders have been questioning the need for the £14.4 million temporary facility currently being built at Millbrook playing field. The Nightingale Hospital will have capacity for 180 beds for people struck down by coronavirus.
The JEP posed the following questions to Health Minister Richard Renouf, who forwarded the request to the government press office for a response.
The response the JEP received is printed below in full.
QUESTIONS
1. What evidence or analysis has been used to support the need for the Nightingale Hospital particularly given other jurisdictions like Guernsey are not building one?
2. Is it the hope that the Nightingale Hospital will be built but not needed? If so, is it justifiable to spend £14 million on something that might not be used?
3. Do we have the staff and equipment to man a further 180 beds?
4. Given that we seem to have been relatively successful in restricting the number of Covid-19 cases, where do we now stand on the curve? When might we expect to see the peak? How many cases might there be at peak levels?
5. Given Guernsey is not building a Nightingale Hospital, if they become overwhelmed with cases, might some patients be sent here? If so, have there been discussions about splitting the cost?
ANSWER
The response, attributed to a government spokesperson: ‘The Nightingale Hospital has been built as part of the Government of Jersey’s contingency plans to support our response to the Coronavirus outbreak.
‘Expected rates of infection across the Island are based on the modelling of Jersey’s public health statistics which look at the anticipated flow of cases and patients within the next 4 – 6 months.
‘Health and Community Services, as with any service, has a capacity limit. What the Nightingale Hospital offers is preparation, when and if, that capacity within the General Hospital is reached to ensure Islanders continue to receive essential care in a hospital setting.
‘HCS have measures in place to ensure care will be delivered across the additional beds if required. HCS works closely with colleagues in Guernsey regarding our response to the virus and are always happy to work collaboratively with our Island neighbours.’
