A REHABILITATION service at Overdale – the removal of which has been a major talking point – could be reinstated immediately, if States Members support a proposal at this week’s States sitting.
Senator Steve Pallett has lodged a proposition calling for Samarès Ward to be reopened. He is also calling for a ‘temporary purpose-built’ facility to be constructed while the ward at Overdale is demolished to make way for the new hospital. He added that a permanent long-term unit should be built in the new hospital or at another suitable location.
Senator Pallett’s proposals come after a petition launched by Jean Lelliott, which has gathered more than 1,400 signatures, called for the new hospital to have the same equipment and specialist staff that used to be based at what she called the ‘world-class’ Samarès Ward.
The facility had 28 beds for people who needed physical rehabilitation but last year the Health Department closed the space and instead provided 12 beds in the Hospital’s Plémont Ward.
A proposition from Deputy Montfort Tadier calling for Jersey to have its own dedicated radiotherapy unit for cancer patients is also due to be discussed during the sitting. The Reform Jersey Deputy will ask Members to request that the Health Minister ‘explores options’ for a radiotherapy unit and brings forward recommendations to the States Assembly no later than April 2022.
Other propositions on the agenda for this week’s sitting – which is due to begin tomorrow – include naming a new emergency services headquarters after the late former Home Affairs Minister Len Norman. Home Affairs Minister Gregory Guida said in his proposition that it had been Mr Norman’s intention to deliver a new, purpose-built station and training facility from which the emergency services would operate, and that naming it after him would be a ‘fitting tribute’ to the former minister, who died last June.
Meanwhile, all Jersey landlords will be required to register on a rental-standards scheme and have their property’s star rating publicly listed, if proposals are passed by States Members. Senator Kristina Moore had lodged a proposition to update the currently voluntary ‘Rent Safe’ scheme, which lists landlords whose properties are accredited with a rating of three to five stars.
Under Senator Moore’s proposals, it would become mandatory for all Jersey landlords to register and all properties and their ratings would be listed, regardless of how many stars (from zero to five) they achieved.
Chief Minister John Le Fondré, Infrastructure Minister Kevin Lewis and Deputy Guida are due to face questions without notice.
