Hospital's plans for temporary theatre building

 

The proposed new facility, containing two operating theatres, will be sited in Gloucester Street car park and attached to the hospital's main theatre suite, enabling the existing theatres to be refurbished.

 

The project, which will also increase capacity from four to six theatres, including the Maternity Theatre, spans a 10-year time frame that will cover the period until the anticipated major project for a new hospital facility is realised. Of the six theatres, four (rather than the current two) will be equipped with superior ventilation systems which meet the standards required for complex or high-risk surgery.

 

Hospital managing director Helen O’Shea said "The existing theatre block is more than 30 years old and in need of refurbishment, meaning that additional theatre space is required in order to carry on with our operating lists whilst the upgrading work takes place. After refurbishment is complete, the Maternity Unit will relocate its theatre cases to the main operating block, in line with modern practice.

 

“Additionally, and very importantly, demands for planned surgery are growing, and we need to increase capacity in order to meet this demand.”

 

In developing the proposals, all possible avenues for the siting of the new theatres have been explored. Mrs O’Shea added that the chosen option was considered the only feasible solution that would deliver the required capacity for winter 2014 within the available budget.

 

The Health and Social Services Department’s project management team has worked closely with Jersey Property Holdings on the planning application, which is being submitted following consultation with the Jersey Architecture Commission, Planning officers and the Island’s historic environment officer. The proposed building will not have any permanent impact on the hospital's listed granite building.