A REVIEW of the Our Hospital project will ‘not do any harm’ and be carried out ‘objectively’, according to the new Infrastructure Minister.
Deputy Tom Binet – who topped the polls in St Saviour in the recent election – is leading a review of the £804 million scheme, which was granted conditional planning permission by former Environment Minister John Young earlier this year.
Deputy Binet was previously a member of the Friends of Our New Hospital campaign group and has levelled criticism at the project in the past, including labelling the site selection process as ‘flawed’.
However, he said he would remain unbiased in his approach to the review, which is due to be presented to the States Assembly in mid-October.
‘I’ve always taken an objective view – that’s one of the reasons I got into politics and now I am maintaining my objective position,’ he added.
He also said that he did not think a ‘pause’ at this stage of the project ‘would do any harm’.
‘What has become clear in the later stages of the previous government is that the international situation has changed.
‘The rise in interest rates and inflation as well as the war in Ukraine and supply-chain alterations – which affects construction – are all critical factors that need to be considered,’ he added.
The recently-elected Treasury Minister, Deputy Ian Gorst, warned in 2020 that every day of delay in building the new hospital would cost ‘tens of thousands of pounds’.
Deputy Gorst, who was External Relations Minister at the time, argued that there was ‘no ideal site’ in Jersey and that ‘we just have to get on and build it’ – as any extra delay would only end up costing millions more.
And Deputy Lyndon Farnham, who previously held political responsibility for the Our Hospital project, has repeatedly raised concerns about Jersey’s ‘ageing health estate’ and the government’s obligation to build the new facility.
Deputy Binet said: ‘I will be working with the Health Minister [Deputy Karen Wilson] to ensure that the Island’s current health provisions are as good as they possibly can be for the period that they are needed for.’
He added: ‘We have got to do the right thing – in all contexts.’
New hospital timeline
– The States Assembly approved Overdale as the preferred site for Jersey’s new hospital in 2020.
– The £804 million budget was approved last year.
– It was given planning approval in May this year.
