A graveyard for hospital beds has been discovered in Jersey at the site of the New Healthcare Facilities' proposed outpatient centre.
Ben Shenton, ex-politician and columnist, posted on X (formerly Twitter), the above photo of disused hospital beds seemingly abandoned in Kensington Place.
He says the beds have been stored behind Newgate Street.
"The photo I published only shows a small amount of them. There is almost like a sea of beds just dumped there.
The reason I posted it is because not only is it distressing for people who can see the waste, but also the fact that there could have been a better use for them than just dumping them on waste ground.
We're told all the time that the world's resources are rare, [and] we've got to make sure we do our bit for society; it just sort of sums up the whole wasteful atmosphere in the island at the moment and I think people think that we need change."
Another islander spotted the same accumulation of around 32 disused beds late last year.
Work is progressing well on the first new ward to be delivered for Jersey’s New Healthcare Facilities Programme… 😜 pic.twitter.com/WZe9rk9NYu
— Chris Edmond (@chrismedmond) December 15, 2023
Many islanders have suggested the beds could be reused in the community.
Mark Cox, CEO of Channel Island's Co-operative, chipped in to the debate on social media, declaring it a 'waste' and asking if the beds could be put to use.
Surely they could be put to good use, know care homes which would benefit? What a waste………………..
— Mark Cox (@MarkCoxJsy) December 15, 2023
Health and Community Services has tweeted it is 'out with the old, in with the new'.
“More than 90 new beds have been installed in the hospital to replace those 'no longer compliant with safety standards'.
It is part of the Health Department's capital replacement programme."
The discarded hospital beds seen in the photos cannot be repurposed, but the government says they will be recycled where possible.
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