New Inpatient Hospital At Overdale By 2028

A new inpatient hospital at Overdale and outpatient wards staying in town are the preferred locations for Jersey's healthcare facilities.

Ministers have announced how they believe services should be split across the locations earmarked for the multi-site hospital.

It follows the publication of a long-awaited feasibility study into the New Healthcare Facilities Programme.

Two options have been evaluated.

Option A would see the acute (inpatient) ward at Kensington Place, and the ambulatory (outpatient) facilities at Overdale.

Option B would see the sites swapped, with inpatient out-of-town and outpatient at adjacent to the current Gloucester Street site.

The study concludes both options are feasible, but B scored higher as it would deliver an operational acute hospital by 2028 - four years earlier than Option A.

And it judged that all facilities - including a including a health village in St Saviour - could be delivered by 2030 - two years earlier than the alternative.

The Chief Minister Deputy Kristina Moore has endorsed the findings:

"It was clear to Ministers that Option B offered the best way forward, having the best score from clinicians while minimising the impact on patients, and the public, during construction.

It would also ensure that we deliver a much-needed acute hospital facility by 2028, with the process accelerated through the use of Modern Methods of Construction."

A month-long consultation will run throughout June, including with residents of Overdale, Kensington Place and St Saviour, patient groups and health staff.

The final feasibility will be presented to the States Assembly in July.

 Previous designs - now shelved - for a single site hospital at Overdale.

Kristina Moore's government announced in November  - following a review as part of its 100 day action plan - that it was scrapping previous plans for an £800m+ single site hospital at Overdale because it was unaffordable.

Ministers say this will be a rolling programme over the coming years that will spread capital spend into a 'series of manageable phases'.

No costs have been given yet, but 'a full cost model is being developed for the Overdale Acute Hospital'.

Treasury Minister Ian Gorst says he will be working with colleagues to ensure the cost proposals brought to the States in the next Government Plan present States Members with 'the most prudent' means of delivering the multi-site healthcare.

"We are committed to ensuring that the plans we follow represent the best value for money for islanders and mitigate the financial risks of developing a single-site hospital with a single contractor."

The case for Option B

Overdale has a maximum building capacity of 45,000 m², the same as Kensington Place. The maximum space needed for a new acute facility is 48,369 m². However, it is preferred to bring the inpatient ward out of town as the site is larger.

Construction will not have to work around existing buildings, such as the listed granite tower at the current hospital.

An acute hospital at Overdale would also mean there is room to expand where needed, as new possible land uses are smaller than the Our New Hospital Plan for the site.

The inpatient facility would be four storeys tall compared to the previous plans for a single-site hospital at Overdale, which drew criticism for its scale.

If Option B goes ahead, islanders could see a new inpatient hospital built by 2028, four years earlier than if it were sited at Kensington Place.

Keeping Outpatients in town is said to make more sense so islanders can go to check-ups and the Urgent Treatment Centre more easily on foot or by public transport, rather than going up Westmount Road to the Overdale site.

It's suggested that that parts of the existing hospital could be used as key-worker housing once the transition to ambulatory care has been made, such as the granite tower and 80s build.

The study agreed that putting the inpatient ward outside of town means that there will be less congestion and would not require changes to the layout of Westmount Road. However, two traffic light sets could be added to Westmount Road before and after the hairpin corner.

Infrastructure Minister Deputy Tom Binet says it was obvious to Ministers that Option B should be the one government follows.

"It delivers all the facilities that were missing in Our Hospital proposals, including rehab and step-down care, and does so without the need to make changes to Westmount Road and the Jersey Bowls Club."

A Health Village is also planned for St Saviour's Rosewood House, Clinique Pinel and Orchard House as part of the New Healthcare Facilities Programme.

The three government-owned mental health facilities may become new therapy, rehabilitation and long-term care sites.

The Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Karen Wilson says the government must deliver on its commitment to the public and health staff.

"We need healthcare facilities that are capable of adapting to the changing needs of the population, built and designed around the principle of integrated care [...] to deliver the best health outcomes, address the stigma and isolation experienced by people with mental health problems in need of acute physical healthcare, and address the needs of children and young people."

More than £130m has been spent on the various hospital projects so far, and more than £38m of that cost has been written off.