04 May 2020
The construction of the Jersey General Hospital’s temporary Nightingale Wing at Millbrook Playing Field has reached a key milestone, on time, and within budget.
From midnight tonight control of the site will transfer within the Government of Jersey from Growth, Housing and Environment’s contractors, J3, to Health and Community Services (HCS). During the next phase, construction staff will complete smaller tasks and support HCS staff in the installation of fixtures, fittings and equipment, while clinical staff test the facilities, and receive on-site training.
The Minister for Infrastructure, Deputy Kevin Lewis, said: “Less than four weeks ago my department was tasked with constructing this facility, which required co-ordination of the efforts of hundreds of people from a diverse range of Jersey businesses, as well as the public sector. The community spirit has been fabulous, and I want to thank the Island’s construction industry, the Ports of Jersey, and my department colleagues for their determination and commitment.”
The next phase will be completed on Monday 11 May, when His Royal Highness, the Earl of Wessex, has agreed to officially open the Nightingale Wing via video link.
No patients will be treated at the new facility until it has been formally opened and deemed operationally fit by the Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Richard Renouf.
Deputy Renouf said: “An extension of the Jersey General Hospital, the Nightingale Wing, will provide additional bed capacity as part of our ongoing resilience to support the Island’s needs as we move forward as a community. It will form an important part of our health care response to Covid-19 and gives us greater resilience as we start to move through the phases of Jersey’s safe exit framework.”