RESPONSES BY DEPUTY PREMIER TO OPPOSITION LEADER
Wednesday August 18th, 2010
Answer 1
Mr. Speaker, as part of the New Hospital development plan a parcel of land registered as Block 2837F Parcel #51of Road Town Registration Section was purchased explicitly for the purpose of improving the accessibility of vehicular traffic including emergency vehicles going into and exiting the New Peebles Hospital compound.
Mr. Speaker it is anticipated that as the New Hospital development progresses, all adjoining development necessary for its efficient operation, including the construction of an access road on the previously mentioned property, will come on stream. I give the assurance that every effort will be made to ensure that all ambulances and emergency vehicles will have ready and safe access to the New Peebles Hospital.
Question 2
Mister Speaker would the Honourable Minister for Health and Social Development please state to this Honourable House when would the medical insurance coverage for Civil Servants and other government workers be regularised, as the existing coverage has been renewed for two three-month extensions and most recently for six months?
Answer 2
Mr. Speaker the terms and conditions of service for Civil Servants do not fall under my portfolio as Minister of Health and Social Development. I have no responsibility for medical insurance coverage for Civil Servants and other government workers, and the question is therefore not properly directed to me.
Question 3
Mister Speaker, would the Honourable Minister for Health and Social Development please advise this Honourable House of any plans for utilising the old hospital? Is it being considered as a potential site for the new Adina Donovan Home?
Answer 3
Mr. Speaker, no final decisions have been taken regarding future usage of the building that currently houses the Peebles Hospital. While several options have been suggested, I am aware that the facility was first constructed more than fifty years ago and prior to any final decision being taken on possible usage, it will be necessary to conduct a full review including a structural assessment.
Mr. Speaker I can state categorically that no consideration is being given to the facility being used as the new Adina Donovan Home.
Question 4
Mister Speaker, would the Honourable Minister for Health and Social Development please tell this Honourable House:
a) what are the terms of the contract for the firm Inter Health Canada Ltd. that has been hired for the commissioning of the hospital; and
b) what monies have been paid out, to date?
Answer 4
a) Mr. Speaker the terms of the Agreement between InterHealth Canada Ltd. and the Government are as I announced in a statement I made in this Honourable House on the 29, December 2009.
Mr. Speaker the contract was eventually signed on the 17 February 2010 and I again place on the records in this Honourable House its terms. The purpose of the contract is to provide consultancy services for the commissioning of the New Peebles Hospital. The contract is in the amount of two million one hundred and eight thousand six hundred ninety-eight dollars ($2,108,698.00).
Mr. Speaker, the expected deliverables are outlined in Schedule I of the contract document registered as Agreement # 4/2010 listed as item No. 64/2010 at the Public Records Office in Road Town.
Mr. Speaker, the fifteen (15) key deliverables that are included in InterHealth Canada’s contract are summarized as follows:
1. Based on the Service plan, to bring the hospital building, plant and equipment to a state of readiness for operational use, with appropriate numbers of staff trained to work according to the systems which are supported by the design and space allocation.
2. To establish a coordinated programme for equipping, staffing, financing and opening the hospital.
3. Using an appropriate project management software application, to monitor progress systematically, anticipating and avoiding delays when possible.
4. To develop operational policies into operational systems which will determine the management of the entire hospital and which will relate to staffing and equipment requirements.
5. To coordinate the completion of an equipment list, grouping equipment for tender purposes, purchasing, receiving and placing ready for use.
6. To coordinate the task of defining staffing requirements in detail and if necessary recruiting and training staff at the appropriate time for each department.
7. To coordinate the development and implementation of an information technology plan.
8. To coordinate a detailed assessment of the running cost of the new building. Where options exist for more economical uses or approaches, these will be appraised and presented to the Board.
9. By the date of construction completion/handover of the building, have established an agreed programme with the hospital management team and respective heads of department for the operational and formal openings of the hospital with minimum disruption of services.
10. To determine any other organizations that might be affected by the project (public/private) and communicate with them at the appropriate time to coordinate their contributions within the total programme.
11. To ensure good communications with the staff, public and media throughout the commissioning process.
12. To anticipate any post completion difficulties and refer them if necessary to the project team.
13. To incorporate in the commissioning process the expertise and managerial functions of the local management team when necessary.
14. To receive reports and work plans from technical advisors to the project and to coordinate their input.
15. To keep the Board and the Ministry of Health and Social Development Project Steering Committee fully informed about progress and refer to the Ministry and /or the Board any matters which require policy decision.
Mr. Speaker, due to the complexity of the deliverables outlined previously the services has been separated into three phases:
Phase A
• To Complete a Clinically focused review of Current Design and Internal Construction.
• To complete a detailed Community Needs Assessment
• To develop an all-inclusive Equipment Plan
• To develop a staffing plan for the hospital
• To develop an operational plan/budget and present it to the Board
• To complete a clinical service plan for the New Peebles Hospital
Phase B
• To develop an itemized implementation and commissioning plan with milestones for the facility
• To develop an information technology plan for the hospital
• To complete a communications Plan to cover Phases A&B
Phase C
• The development of a quality improvement plan through the preparation for membership in an accreditation programme
• To develop all operational Policies for the facility
• To develop a programme for the transfer of staff and services with minimum disruption to the New Peebles Hospital
Mr. Speaker I am pleased to report that the project is progressing according to schedule and the following deliverables have been received to date:
1. Clinically Focused Review of the Building Design – Final Report
2. Community Needs Assessment – Final Report
3. Revised Draft Clinical Services Plan
4. Hospital Equipment – draft Request for Proposal (RFP)
5. Health Information System – draft Request for Proposal (RFP)
b) As of today’s date a total of two hundred ninety-one thousand forty four dollars ($291,044.00) has been paid to InterHealth Canada Ltd.
Mister Speaker, would the Honourable Minister for Health and Social Development please tell this Honourable House whether the architectural firm Page Sutherland Page now conducting an audit on the hospital, were not required to monitor and oversee the construction of the hospital during the building phase?
Question 5
Mr. Speaker, Page Southerland Page (PSP) is not now conducting an audit of the hospital. PSP’s contract was signed on the 30thMarch 2005 by my predecessor in office. The services provided by PSP under the Contract included architectural design, as well as civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection engineering services for the New Peebles Hospital.
Answer 5
Mr. Speaker the Contract comprised of two major elements: Design and Construction Administration.
Design services included Schematic design, design development, the production of construction drawings, and assistance with the evaluation of the tenders received.
Mr. Speaker, in terms of Construction Administration PSP’s responsibility included the following major deliverables:
1. Consult with the Client and the General Contractor to establish installation schedules and provide project coordination.
2. Review selected shop drawings and samples for conformance with approved design concept of the project.
3. Provide periodic site visits to observe quality of work, and endeavour to guard against defects or deficiencies in the work of the General Contractor.
4. If requested, advise the Client, based on applications for payment, for works completed in accordance with the drawings and specifications.
5. During the construction and implementation phases, attend periodic job site meetings.
6. Prepare and issue to the Client for coordination and issuing to the General Contractor, punch lists specifying the works to be completed and or corrected before final payment.
7. Perform one complete follow-up on punch list items to ascertain the status of completion by the Contractor of the initial punch list.
8. Issue a Certificate of Substantial Completion to the Owner and the Contractor once the work is substantially complete.
9. Review close out documentation on behalf of the Owner reflecting all information has been completed within the project.
10. Prepare CADD documents as required by the Owner.
11. Perform post-occupancy evaluation to confirm that the design intent is functional and satisfactory to the client.
Mr. Speaker item number three (3) relates most specifically to the Honourable Leader of the Opposition’s question in that it requires PSP to “observe quality of work and endeavour to guard against defects”.
Mr. Speaker the Architectural firm has a responsibility to report on any deviations from design observed during construction, and according to the Ministry’s records these services were indeed performed by PSP. However, I hasten to add that it remains the General Contractor’s responsibility to remedy any defects identified throughout the execution of works.