Next week, the government is set to announce funding for St Helier Hospital, which has faced ongoing issues and delays in upgrades.
This hospital has been around since 1941, and it’s seen its fair share of funding promises from different governments. Back in 2003, Tony Blair’s Labour government kicked things off with a plan called Better Health Care Closer to Home.
Then in 2010, George Osborne from the Tories promised a hefty £200 million for new hospital projects, including St Helier. Fast forward to 2020, and Boris Johnson’s government pledged up to £500 million for the New Hospitals Programme, with St Helier on the list.
Just this year, the BBC reported that ministers are aiming to have six hospitals ready by 2025, and St Helier is one of them. But Dr. Beccy Suckling, the chief medical officer, pointed out some serious issues.
She mentioned problems like windows that won’t close, which leads to dampness. Last year alone, over 600 operations had to be canceled due to ventilation issues in the operating rooms.
Dr. Suckling believes the building’s age, completed in 1942, is really at the heart of these ongoing problems. It’s clear that St Helier needs some love and attention soon!
