Jersey might not be able to afford to build and operate its new hospital and separate healthcare centres, warns a new report by scrutiny politicians.
The Hospital Review Panel has been reviewing the New Healthcare Facilities Programme.
It's 117 page report blasts a lack of clarity and transparency about decision-making and the cost of the likely billion pound project.
The panel says it is 'deeply concerned about the future affordability' of staffing and running sites at Overdale, Kensington Place, St Saviour's Health village.
It has also warned that plans to withdrew £10 million to improve the General Hospital while the new one is built presents a 'risk to patients'.
Deputy Jonathan Renouf, Chair of the Hospital Review Panel, says they are 'acutely aware of the need for the acute hospital at Overdale to progress', but that serious doubts remain:
“It is all very well wanting to “get things done”, but we need to know that what is being done is the right thing, and that is what the assurance process is designed to ensure.
“This is the largest capital project the Island has ever embarked on, and the Panel has major concerns that there appears to be an ongoing lack of transparency which means that the Outline Business Case does not meet the expected standard to justify funding decisions of this scale."
Read: New hospital at Overdale gets planning approval
Health Minister Tom Binet has reacted by saying 'it is clear that the report is likely to cause a good deal of unnecessary concern.'
He says he will study the findings carefully 'over the coming days' and give a fuller response 'as soon as possible'.
"For the avoidance of doubt, there is nothing in it to suggest that progress towards the delivery of New Healthcare Facilities should be slowed and I am confident that the team will be able to address all the key findings and recommendations and assuage any public misgivings.
"Even the Chair of the Panel himself says that they are not saying the new healthcare facilities will fail to meet the needs of Islanders or that they are definitely unaffordable."
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