Health minister Hunter Adam in the new £36m. clinical block at the PEH. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 0861821)

As part of the States Strategic Plan, the department has asked for around £150,000 to pay for the cleaners and porters it now needs fully to open the facility at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital.

But the Policy Council has not agreed to that for next year.

The Assembly will debate the SSP next week, with some hope offered by an amendment by Deputy Matt Fallaize for the extra money to be found.

Asked what the department would do about the block if it did not get the money, Health minister Hunter Adam replied: ‘Do you think HSSD will let it stand empty?’

He said that because many of the new wards had single rooms, there was more cleaning to be done and cleaners were essential.

‘You must keep a place clean and watch for infection. They have to be trained so they know exactly what to do.’

Health’s deputy chief officer, Richard Evans, said the money would have to be found from somewhere else if the States refused.