Fixing hospital fire safety could cost £2m

Work to fix issues with fire safety in the new critical care unit at Guernsey's Princess Elizabeth Hospital could cost up to £2m.

Health and Social Care (HSC) President George Oswald told the States earlier in May that during remedial works on the unit's ventilation system, it was found it also did not meet fire safety regulations.

Tougher rules on fire protection in buildings where people would be at increased risk were brought in following the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, which killed 72 people.

Dermot Mullin, HSC director of operations, said: "This additional work is necessary to ensure full compliance with current fire regulations and stems from failings in the original fire strategy."

Mullin said the States will foot the bill of the additional work.

"This will increase project costs, which are still to be finalised but are expected to be about £1m to £2m," he said.

"This is not the outcome we hoped for, and we remain focused on opening the units as soon as is practicably possible.

"Although HSC cannot confirm a final budget for the full project until several months after the work is completed, we know that Phase 1 will not remain within the original £34m budget."

The unit was originally due to open in 2024, but was pushed back to this year and it is now not expected to open until 2027.

Oswald said HSC will work with Policy & Resources to support "essential" parts of the process.

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