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Replacement of the Island’s General Hospital

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2019.07.16

11 Deputy K.G. Pamplin of the Chief Minister regarding the replacement of the

Island's General Hospital: (188/2019)

Will the Chief Minister provide an update on the work to replace the Island's General Hospital, including on the site selection process?

Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré (The Chief Minister):

Senator Farnham is answering this question as Chairman of the Political Oversight Group that has been established.

Senator L.J. Farnham (Chairman, Political Oversight Group - rapporteur):

The Political Oversight Group, as set out in the Chief Minister's report to the Assembly, has convened and met twice in full session, to agree terms of reference and governance of the project. The Senior Officer Steering Group has also met 3 times to establish the pipeline of papers for the Political Oversight Group and recommendations and issues for political decision. An Officer Working Group has also been established to develop process and action decisions of the Oversight Group, including establishing a plan to assemble the new project team and to secure appropriate approval from the States Employment Board for that approach to develop a business case for the first tranche of funding, as also set out in the Chief Minister's report and to develop the process timeline. Meanwhile, work is ongoing in Health and Community Services to develop a new model for healthcare in Jersey to update the 2012 model, which will be the critical framework within which the new hospital will be designed and will operate.

  1. Deputy K.G. Pamplin:

The estimated figure of £7 million to upstart the project again, has that figure risen, or dropped? I know that probably touches into Government Plan again. Does that include the creation of a communications role that was noted in May, if you can give any further updates on that?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

The communications role - the important communications role - will be part of the new project team. There is no plan, at the moment, to increase the budget; in fact we are introducing a new method of funding. Under the careful eye of the Minister for Treasury and Resources and the Assistant Minister for Treasury and Resources, tranches will only be released in maximum amounts of £500,000 for the project.

[10:45]

Those amounts of money will only be released once the requests and the administration for such funding has been carefully scrutinised.

  1. Deputy K.G. Pamplin:

Just to pick up if I can; the creation of the communications role, do we have an estimated date when that person will be in post? Because, dare I say, it is probably needed.

Senator L.J. Farnham :

Not an exact date, but it is imminent and we can expect an announcement very soon.