Approval will be sought in Tynwald this month for £2.2 million to build a new 48 unit accommodation block on the Noble’s Hospital estate.
Minister for Health and Social Care, Howard Quayle MHK, said the facility is 'essential in our efforts to attract vitally needed health and social care professionals to the Island.'
Temporary accommodation is made available on a rental basis to a number of health and social care workers. One of the most common uses is for new employees who are relocating to the Island. Instant access to accommodation means they are able to take up their posts without delay as well as providing added support and flexibility whilst new starters establish themselves on the Island and settle in.
In addition, accommodation is required for a number of other reasons, including for agency and locum staff, the Island’s junior doctors, interview candidates, and students.
The Minister continued: 'There is intense competition to attract health and social care workers throughout the UK and Europe. Our ability to provide modern, comfortable and affordable short-term accommodation – especially given our Island setting – plays an important part in attracting new professionals to work in our health and social care service.
'It has become clear that some of our accommodation is no longer of a suitable standard, with replacement facilities required so as not to jeopardise our ability to recruit and retain staff.'
The new accommodation block will replace two houses and the Nurses Home in Douglas, the later having opened in 1951 and now at the end of its operational life. All three properties will be put on the market with a combined value of £1.8 million.
The Henry Bloom Noble Healthcare Trust has kindly agreed to give the land at Westmoreland Road, on which the Nurses Home is built, to the Department of Health and Social Care, so that its sale can be used to off-set the costs of building the new housing units. In recognition of the Trust’s contribution over many decades the new accommodation block will be named the ‘Henry Bloom Noble Healthcare Trust Residence’.
If Tynwald approves the spending, work is expected to commence in August, with the units opening in September 2017. It will mean that all of the Department’s accommodation will be on the Noble’s Hospital site, which has been a long-term ambition.
