What Nursing accommodation is provided give age and condition of furniture and fittings and is there feedback from staff in this accommodation

1240/5(6346)

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES BY DEPUTY M. TADIER OF ST. BRELADE

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 7th JUNE 2011

Question

Can the Minister advise what Nursing accommodation is provided in the Island; the age and general condition of the furniture and fittings within the same and what feedback, if any, she has received from staff as to the state of this accommodation?

Are there plans there are to refurbish any of the said areas and, if so, can she provide details? Answer

1. Accommodation units

HSSD has 228 units of staff accommodation. Of these:

• 159 units are for nursing staff, paramedical, locum and agency staff include:
• 76 rooms in shared houses
• 23 bed-sits
• 12 x 1 bed-roomed units
• 19 x 2 bed-roomed units
• 34 x 3 bed-roomed units
• 2 x 4 bed-roomed units
• 56 units are for doctors (9 x 2 bed flats; 7 x 1 bed flats; 40 x bedsits)
• 6 units are on-call rooms based in Peter Crill House at the Hospital
• 7 units are for medical students on HSSD/Southampton University student programme (7 bed house)

Registered nurses, midwives and operating departmental practitioners are entitled to occupy A-H category rental accommodation within their J' category contract of employment providing increased options across the private sector.

2. Condition of fixture and fittings

The annual budget for fixture and fittings is approximately £12k per year. Items in a usable condition are not replaced but new furniture is purchased when required. For example, new sofas and some new beds were recently purchased for the Peter Crill House accommodation.

HSSD is financially unable to provide new furniture for every new tenant and is therefore dependent on existing tenants respecting furniture and fittings.

3. Tenant feedback

HSSD has received both positive and negative comments about the standards of accommodation. This feedback can be about the same unit of accommodation and can be conflicting. The Department's Accommodation Team consider all comments made and work to resolve issues as they arise. A combination of limited resources however, coupled with a quick tenant turnaround times, makes maintenance a challenge. HSSD is, in part, reliant on tenants informing the Accommodation team of problems so they can be attended to.

4. Completed refurbishment programmes – across all HSSD staff accomodation

£100,000 refurbishment programme of Peter Crill House (30x 1 bed units plus communal areas) completed in February 2011. Included:

• Total redecoration of all rooms and communal areas
• New carpets and vinyl in all bedrooms and communal areas.
• Service of all windows.
• Check and repair all light and electrical points etc and intercom system.
• Service and adjust doors to fire doors.
• Redecoration of stair well and mail box area.
• Replacement blinds, curtains, beds and lounge furniture where needed.
• Replacement of all door locks.

£150,000 refurbishment programme of Marina Cottages (10 x 3 bed houses) completed May 2011. Included:

• Replacement of all kitchen units.
• Replacement of shower cubicles where needed.
• General redecoration where needed.
• Checking and replacing of electrical points, light fittings and smoke detectors.
• Replacement of carpets and vinyl where needed.
• Other general maintenance identified on the condition survey.

5. 2011 refurbishment programmes – across all HSSD staff accomodation

In 2011 HSSD will be undertaking a £200k refurbishment of the following units:

• Valley Close (6 x 3 bed house + 8 x 2 bed house) replacement of all single glazed windows and patio doors to double glazed units plus minor electrical repairs.
• Marina  Court  (5  x  2  bed  flats  +  1  x  3  bed  shared  flat):  Health  and  Safety maintenance of staircase balustrades, minor window repairs and replacement of 2 kitchens.
• West Park Avenue (4 bed house): Refurbishment and repair to ensure house in a habitable condition.