26 August 2011
The Minister for Treasury and Resources, Senator Philip Ozouf, has proposed an amendment to the Annual Business Plan 2012 to enable the facilities at Clinique Pinel at St. Saviour’s Hospital to be upgraded.
The amendment has been proposed after working with the Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Anne Pryke, and after consultation with the Council of Ministers. It asks the States to allocate an additional £1,768,000 to allow further urgent work to be carried out at Beech and Cedar Wards at Clinique Pinel, St. Saviour’s Hospital.
Clinique Pinel provides assessment and treatment units for people over the age of 65 who suffer from mental illnesses, but the current facilities are not considered to be fit for purpose. The design of the building is not conducive to modern mental health care standards and there are limited bathing facilities with no showers and small, dormitory-style bedrooms.
Under the draft Annual Business Plan 2012, £1,100,000 has already been allocated to the refurbishment of the wards, but Senator Ozouf hopes that the States will agree to increase this amount to £2,868,000 to allow for health and safety improvements to be undertaken at the same time as the refurbishment.
Senator Ozouf said: "I recently visited Clinique Pinel and it was apparent from my visit that this work cannot be delayed and is absolutely essential in order to bring conditions for residents up to a minimum acceptable standard.
The proposal increases previously agreed total expenditure limits by £1,768,000, but I consider this work to be unavoidable and it would be unrealistic and inequitable to displace any other capital or revenue expenditure already proposed at this late stage.”
The Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Pryke, said: "This funding will be used to meet the cost of a capital project that has been outstanding for a number of years.
I am very pleased that the Minister has agreed to request the necessary funding to enable the work to be carried out in 2012. The additional funding will allow us to establish a more appropriate residential setting to offer care to patients, as well as an improved working environment for staff."
Should the States adopt the amendment, the forecast consolidated fund balance will not be adversely affected as £3.8 million that had previously been earmarked by the States for expenditure on pandemic flu will be re-allocated to the fund. The forecast balance will then be £2 million higher than that included in the draft 2012 Business Plan, at £7 million. Should there be a future need for pandemic flu funding, then contingency arrangements will put in place to address any funding requirements.
gov.je