The Nightingale Wing of the Island’s General Hospital was officially opened yesterday by the Earl and Countess of Wessex.
Construction work for the £14.4 million project began on Thursday 9 April, and now the first two 30-bed wards are fitted out and available for use.
Many of those involved in the project have talked about the unprecedented levels of co-operation between those involved.
‘It’s been a phenomenal achievement which I haven’t seen anything like in seven years here,’ said consultant Dr Simon Chapman. ‘It shows what can be achieved with a positive mindset.’
Health Minister Richard Renouf said: ‘This is a sign of what can be done – barriers have been smashed down and now we have had so many partners working together on a project. I hope we can replicate that when we build a permanent hospital.’
Having signed off documentation for the new use of the playing field at Millbrook on Monday 6 April, Infrastructure Minister Kevin Lewis said he was delighted to see the project completed on time and on budget.
‘We had the Dutch team here, and some involvement from the Ministry of Defence, but otherwise this was entirely a local project with firms who would normally be in competition with each other working closely to get the job done,’ he said.
‘We hope it will never be used, but we would much rather have it available.’
Currently there are just eight Covid-19 patients at the General Hospital, but such patients may be treated at the Nightingale once training is completed later this week.
Deputy Renouf said that in the event of a rise in cases, a decision could be made to utilise the new wing at short notice.
The minister said that by adding the capacity of the Nightingale to the Island’s overall bed provision, it would be possible to restart some of the General Hospital’s ‘business as usual’ operations and procedures which were suspended – with the exception of urgent cases – in late March.
Each bed at the Nightingale will have access to oxygen produced at an onsite plant, one of several elements within the temporary scheme designed to be reusable in other healthcare settings once the temporary facility closes.
Deputy Lewis said that he expected the facility to be in place for a minimum of six months.
‘The end date is unknown – it may be here until we get a vaccine, but represents a very good insurance policy for the Island,’ he said.
