Future Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace (CHPG) is priority for Stephane Valeri.

In his first interview with the Press since taking on the role of Government advisor for health and social services, Stephane Valeri said his priority is to review the project of the future Princess Grace Hospital (CHPG). Plans for the new hospital were unveiled in April 2008, and construction work is expected to start this year, with a completion date between 2018 and 2020.

The future Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace

According to Nice Matin, Valeri said the preliminary study for the work doesn't correspond to specifications, and noted in particular the lack of parking spaces in the plans. Indeed it's not the first time that parking issues have been raised. Just before Christmas, in a meeting with Government representatives, the National Council questioned the sufficiency of parking provision for employees, patients and visitors. At that time, the Government was investigating running shuttle buses to the hospital from car parks in other districts of Monaco, but the parliamentary members insisted there should be more parking space in the plans. Among the proposals that Stephane Valeri is now considering is the destruction of the Tamaris building in the south section of the site to make way for a bigger car park.

Besides the problems of access to parking, concerns have also been raised about overspending the 705 million euros set aside for the project, as well as the nuisance that will be caused by the construction work. And to add to the worries, at the beginning of December, the project's architect Claude Vasconi sadly died.

Nevertheless, work at the hospital continues as normal to provide high quality services to patients. Earlier in January the Director of CHPG Patrick Bini gave his New Year wishes to staff and outlined plans for 2010:

• new pediatric ward
• renovation of the resuscitation unit
• new hemodialysys service
• renovation of the MRI reception
• extension of the cafeteria