THE first images showing how Jersey’s new acute hospital could look have been unveiled by the government with a planning application expected to be lodged later this year.
Health Minister Tom Binet said he remained “confident” that the New Healthcare Facilities Programme, which seeks to build in several locations – including construction of the acute facility at Overdale as well as a health village in St Saviour – will bring an end to the decade-long quest for a new hospital.
The controversial saga has seen more than £130 million spent so far across multiple projects spanning different governments.
This includes plans for an £800m health campus under the previous Our Hospital scheme, which was overseen by Deputy Lyndon Farnham. However, those plans were ultimately scrapped in 2022 following a review by Deputy Binet, who was Infrastructure Minister at the time.
Deputy Binet deemed that the health campus as proposed was “no longer feasible”, citing rises in inflation, borrowing rates and global economic instability. He reopened the debate over the possibility of a multi-site solution.
Under the new programme, it is estimated that the total cost to deliver an acute facility at Overdale and progress development of the future phases covering an ambulatory facility and health village will be £710m, a cost that has been included within the latest Government Plan.
In December, it emerged that work to demolish the dilapidated and unused buildings at Overdale was under way in preparation for the new acute facility, which will provide for the Island’s sickest patients and those who require overnight care. This includes elective and emergency operating theatres, inpatient wards and a maternity unit.
Deputy Binet said: “Something very drastic would have to happen to stop this from being completed now. Unless something goes badly wrong, we should be under construction – meaning it is contracted and commenced – within the period of this government, so I am still confident, as confident as I have been from the start.”
He said that a business case and planning application would be ready “at the end of the summer”.
“It’s at that point we will put it to the States for final verification.”
The government has said that stakeholder meetings are being held to gather feedback on early proposals for the facility, to help inform the next stage of the building’s design.
This includes sessions with Health and Community Services staff, as well as with Islanders who live near Overdale and Kensington Place.
Following this, the concept proposals will be further refined in advance of an Island-wide consultation in May. However, the government has said the existing alignment of Westmount Road will be retained meaning the Jersey Bowling Club would not be affected.
Deputy Binet said: “Engaging with key stakeholders at this stage of the process is essential to make sure we are capturing feedback from those who are more likely to be impacted by the proposals.
“We are making very good progress with the development of the acute hospital, which I hope Islanders will see reflected in the concept designs we are sharing at this stage. I favour a transparent approach with Islanders, and I hope that by sharing the designs at this stage, our community can get a good sense of the fantastic new facility that is being developed.”
He added: “I look forward to presenting the scheme to Islanders in much more detail in the coming months when we will be going out to public consultation.
“If you are an interested party and you think we should be consulting with you at this stage, please do get in touch with the programme team.”
