PATIENTS still at the Castel Hospital may have to wait four years before they move to the new La Corbinerie site. Sixty residents in continuing care, primarily the elderly with dementia, were relocated earlier in the summer. They will be followed by the acute service, in which the number fluctuates, but not for several years. Facilities will include an acute hospital with 24 beds, a day hospital and a day centre.

‘There are complications in that we have to move other facilities off the La Corbinerie site first to make room,’ said Health and Social Services minister Peter Roffey.

Those currently in Le Mignot Centre, which is a day service for people with learning difficulties, and Oberlands House, a residential unit for the elderly with learning difficulties, must be moved off first.

Those at Le Mignot will go to the new St Martin’s Community Centre and those attending the Oberlands to a number of smaller homes.

‘They ought to be based in the community and not on a hospital site, but it could take up to four years,’ said Deputy Roffey.

He said that the overall feeling as a result of the initial move to the £6.6m. care facility was very positive. Most residents are now in single en suite rooms, many with direct access to enclosed gardens. The complex is split into

three 20-bed blocks.

‘By and large, the feeling is that it has been an extremely positive move and the facilities, especially the living accommodation, are an awful lot better than they were at the Castel Hospital.

‘The only issue I know of is that there used to be a special room used as a social centre and that is something that we are looking at addressing.’

He said that in about four years’ time, when all residents had been moved out, the fate of the Castel Hospital would be down to the Treasury and Resources Department.

‘I would love to see it developed for sheltered housing, with it being such a lovely setting, but it is not down to the Health and Social Services Department.’

* The need to replace Castel Hospital was first identified 20 years ago, but it took until 1994 for the recommendation to be made for new facilities. The final scheme was approved by the States in April 2002 and building work started a month later.