DEBATE about the new hospital rag- on. Concern has understandably Des been expressed not just about the site selection, openness and the process which led to where we are today, but also about the eye-watering cost of this massive capital project. Millions have been spent for precious little return.

But while these arguments continue, and wherever the hospital is finally built, there remains an underlying question that runs in parallel to the rest. Are we investing sufficiently in human capital – to ensure that Jersey is attractive to the best medical professionals who can afford to settle here so as not to have to rely on a carousel of locums and temporary agency staff who come and go with alarming regularity? The current hospital might be in a poor state of physical repair, but letters to this newspaper offer ample testimony of the skill, expertise and compassion of the men and women who make sure the hospital functions effectively, from the highest paid consultants to the auxiliary staff who serve food and keep the place clean.

This question re-emerged this week.

On page 7 of Thursday’s JEP, it was reported that nurses and midwives had rejected a 0.9% pay increase. The Royal College of Nursing, Jersey Nursing Association and the Royal College of Midwives are now due to have talks with the government to try to find a way forward.

In the past year, people have stood outside their homes banging pans, whooping and singing in support and appreciation of healthcare workers. Given the shared sense that society has not historically valued them anywhere near enough does this feel right? The pay-dispute article was published on the same day that the government announced a wave of fiscal-stimulus-fund allocations to help with the post-Covid recovery. It was interesting (and ironic) that the word recovery should have been used when nurses were having to fight for a better pay deal as cash was being splashed on what some might see as nice-to-haves.

At first glance, the awards disproportionately favoured the construction industry, the one section of the economy which is running hot and in little need to taxpayer-funded stimulation. There are, of course, reasonable considerations to be made before unthinkingly awarding public sector pay rises on a wave of emotion. How does nurses pay compare with others for example? Can we afford this rise in revenue expenditure? But after the year we’ve all just lived through, would this Island back a decent pay rise for those who have bravely stood on the front line of our health services? The answer is surely yes.

If £50,000 can be found to fund a charity’s new website, dubiously under the banner of fiscal stimulus, and hundreds of millions are available for hospitals, sports centres and consultants, it will stick in the throats of many that nurses are not better treated.