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OQ.66/2025
ORAL QUESTION FOR TUESDAY 18th MARCH 2025
Deputy J. Renouf of St. Brelade will ask the following question of the Minister for Health and Social Services –
"Further to the Hospital Review Panel report entitled Review of the New Healthcare Facilities', and in light of the difference in bed-provision between the new Acute Hospital at Overdale and the current facility in Gloucester Street, will the Minister provide details of any expected increase in staffing costs for the new Acute Hospital, and, if there is no expected increase, will he explain why not?"
In accordance with Standing Order 63(9) the attached written answer has been provided to this Oral Question.
63(9). If any Oral question has not been asked before the end of the 2 hours and 20 minutes allowed, the Member of the States who was due to answer it must provide a written response to the Greffier for distribution as soon as practicable.
Answer
Staff costs should be similar at the time of the transfer of operations from Glouster Street to Overdale, if perhaps a little higher, given the change to single occupancy rooms and the additional expense associated with some staff members having to travel the 850 meters between the two sites.
However, we must accept that, as bed occupancy increases to take account of our ageing (and potentially growing) population, staff costs will certainly increase, proportionately. This would be no different if we had built the Our Hospital' Project or decided to stay at Gloucester Street – but for the fact that we already have a bed shortage.
Significant work has been done to demonstrate that the proposals are affordable and the information relating to this can be found in the Outline Business Case at Point 5.7, on pages 67 to 70.
Health and Care Jersey (HCJ') is currently developing its workforce plan and healthcare strategy which will further inform the work on the required staffing levels for the Acute Hospital and other healthcare provision.
The Workforce strategy will establish what we require to open the hospital, create a recruitment process, and a timeline – all of which will help to refine the calculation of staff cost increases, as bed occupancy increases. This is a complex piece of work, but it is anticipated that a draft should be available by the end of 2025. It is also important to note that the Outline Business Case already shows that the revenue costs are affordable.