WATCH: Jersey's government shows off detailed designs for new hospital

A public consultation has opened to get islanders' opinions on how the new hospital at Overdale might look.

Throughout the month of May, people will have the chance to say what they think of the more detailed concept proposals for the £710 million acute hospital.

The government team working on the plans has favoured 'Design B', which is six storeys tall at the centre, to lessen the impact on the surrounding area.

Health Minister Tom Binet thinks they have managed to get the right things on the right site:

"Last time around it was a very, very big building.

"The infrastructural costs were very large, and they've come down considerably. Even per square metre, they're still down, so it's a more economic model."

A second video released by the government shows how the hospital could be built.

The new acute facilities will take on a 'pinwheel' design which will see a central hub with the six wards surrounding it.

Each ward will have 30 beds, 22 of which will be en-suite.

The final eight beds on each ward will be two rooms of four, with two bathrooms, meaning islanders will never share with more than one person.

When asked if the number of single rooms will be more of a strain on the health service, Minister Tom Binet said it is common practice to have en-suite rooms now

"Most people want a bit more privacy and we're trying to offer that in the design.

"It's more expensive to build individual rooms than wards, but I think it's a worthwhile investment for a lot of reasons."

Demolition of the current Overdale site started in the summer of 2023, with asbestos surveys and plans created for the patients still there.

The government believes the site will be completely cleared by September 2024. Patients on Samares Ward will be moved to St Ewold's, which has 20 en-suite rooms, on 14 May.

We're told that, whilst demolition and construction continues at Overdale, the nearby crematorium and rose garden will not be directly affected, but there may be plans to move services to an alternate location so they are not disrupted.

Information leaflets are being sent to every home in Jersey this week.

There is an online exhibition space for islanders to look at the designs and videos.

People can also attended in person at various venues throughout May to see the plans, including the possibility to tour the inpatient bedrooms with a Virtual Reality headset.

Images supplied by Government of Jersey