The Future Hospital Review Panel has been reconstituted. The Review Panel has invited the Chief Minister and Chairman of his Hospital Policy Development Board, Constable Chris Taylor, to attend a public hearing to discuss the latest developments in relation to the future hospital.
Jersey’s new hospital will be the largest capital project ever undertaken in Jersey and public interest in the project remains high.
The Chairmen's Committee, which oversees the work of Scrutiny, has re-established this Review Panel to scrutinise the future hospital project following on the work of the former Review Panel during the previous States Assembly.
A planning inquiry on the Government’s current plans for a new hospital on the existing site is due to take place in September.
At the same time, the Chief Minister has established a Policy Development Board to review the evidence that supported the previous States Assembly’s decision to build a new hospital on the site of the existing hospital. The Board aim’s to report by 31st October to coincide with the outcomes of the planning inquiry.
It is not clear how the two relate to each other and what impact the Board’s work will have on the current plans.
Deputy Kevin Pamplin, Chairman of the Future Hospital Review Panel said:
“Our job in Scrutiny is to hold ministers to account for their policies and to help keep the public informed on matters of public interest. The future hospital will be the Island’s largest project to date and it is important that the public are clear about the status of the project. The Chief Minister is ultimately responsible for this project so we want to get an update from him on his Government’s progress to deliver this essential piece of infrastructure for the Island.”
The Chief Minister was previously a member of the Future Hospital Review Panel in the last Assembly and the new Review Panel are interested in hearing about his work on that Panel at the hearing.