Jersey Hospital Uses Ice Lollies and Portable Cooling Units as Calls Grow for Full Air Conditioning

Patients at Jersey’s General Hospital have been kept cool with cold drinks, ice and ice lollies during recent periods of extreme heat, according to Health Minister Senator Tom Binet.

The comments come after more than 2,600 people signed a petition calling on the government to install air conditioning throughout the hospital.

Concerns about hospital temperatures increased after air conditioning systems in some operating theatres failed during the May heatwave, affecting 83 patients. At the time, Senator Binet said planned new healthcare facilities would provide a “state of the art” environment.

Responding to the petition, the Health Minister said the concerns raised by islanders were “entirely understandable” and said steps had been taken to reduce the impact of high temperatures.

He said portable air-conditioning units had been placed around the hospital, while a new chiller system had been installed to ensure operating theatres could continue to run safely.

“In areas where it has been appropriate, patients have been moved to air-conditioned spaces,” Senator Binet said. “Staff have also worked hard to keep patients comfortable by providing cold drinks, ice and ice lollies.”

The minister acknowledged that the current hospital buildings were designed for a different time and were not built to cope with the increasingly frequent periods of extreme heat.

He said rising temperatures linked to climate change were exposing the limitations of older healthcare facilities.

“As our climate continues to warm and periods of very hot weather become more frequent and intense, the challenges faced by the existing estate are becoming clearer,” he said.

Senator Binet said installing permanent air conditioning throughout the existing hospital was not considered a realistic long-term solution.

He said the concerns highlighted the importance of progressing plans for Jersey’s new Acute Hospital at Overdale, which has been designed with future climate challenges in mind.

The new facility will include modern ventilation, cooling and environmental control systems aimed at creating a safer and more comfortable environment for patients, visitors and healthcare staff.