> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.thequarry.media/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The Weekly Briefing from The Quarry - URL: https://www.thequarry.media/the-weekly-briefing-from-the-quarry-48/ - Published: 2026-05-27T15:45:10.000Z - Updated: 2026-05-27T15:45:10.000Z - Author: Nick Mann - Tags: The Briefing The Weekly Briefing from The Quarry 0:00 /0 1× --- ### [Hospital fire safety work to cost up to £2m, delaying critical care unit opening until 2027](https://www.thequarry.media/guernsey-hospital-fire-safety-work-to-cost-up-to-2m-delaying-opening-until-2026/) Published 27 May 2026 - Up to £2m in additional costs required to fix fire safety issues at Guernsey Hospital's new Critical Care Unit and Post Anaesthetic Care Unit due to failings in the original fire strategy - Contractor Rihoy & Sons is covering costs of initial construction defects but the States of Guernsey must fund additional fire protection work - New units will not open before the end of 2026, significantly delayed from original autumn 2024 completion date - Phase 1 will exceed its original £34m budget, with final costs to be confirmed after work completion - Phase 2A of hospital modernisation now projected to cost very significantly more than the approved £130m budget [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/48/0b/480bfed6-f3f7-4a48-9efe-fae23adf5d03/content/images/2026/05/guernsey-record-1.png)](https://record.thequarry.media/?ref=thequarry.media) Click to access The Guernsey Record ### [Welcome to The Guernsey Record - search, track and understand what's happening in your island](https://www.thequarry.media/the-guernsey-record-launches-as-searchable-civic-archive-to-combat-information-fragmentation/) Published 27 May 2026 - The Quarry launches [The Guernsey Record](https://record.thequarry.media/?ref=thequarry.media), a searchable database of planning applications, FOI disclosures, public notices, and journalism to make fragmented public information more accessible - Free tier users can search the archive by parish and set up email alerts for freedom of information requests - Paid subscribers gain access to planning application tracking, FOI drafting tools, keyword watches, and document summaries depending on membership level - The project aims to democratise access to civic information, giving the public the same research tools used by journalists - The initiative addresses a growing crisis: 37 UK local authority districts now have no dedicated news outlet, leaving 4.4 million people in 'news deserts' ### [Princess Elizabeth Hospital declares critical incident as capacity crisis forces surgery cancellations](https://www.thequarry.media/princess-elizabeth-hospital-declares-critical-incident-as-capacity-crisis-forces-surgery-cancellations/) Published 27 May 2026 - Princess Elizabeth Hospital has declared a critical incident due to overcapacity, forcing postponement of elective surgeries - Two surgeries cancelled on 26th May with at least one more postponed for the following day; further disruption expected - All cancer and emergency surgeries continue as planned and remain priority procedures - Additional temporary flex beds and ward beds opened to manage demand; community teams taking increased caseloads - Emergency Department experiencing high attendances with longer waiting times for non-urgent cases ### [Alcohol is the substance that causes the greatest harm, Minimum Unit Pricing proposals near completion](https://www.thequarry.media/alcohol-is-the-substance-that-causes-the-greatest-harm-minimum-unit-pricing-proposals-near-completion/) Published 26 May 2026 - Combined Substance Use Strategy achieved 89% overall progress by end of 2025, with 56% of actions completed, whilst alcohol identified as substance causing greatest harm in Bailiwick - Approximately nine alcohol-specific deaths occur annually, with rate of 12.7 per 100,000; 23.7% of adults drank more than recommended 14 units weekly in 2023 - Comprehensive vaping legislation introduced including ban on sales to under-18s, disposable vapes and advertising restrictions; adult smoking prevalence fell to 9.1%, below 10% target - QuitVape service launched for 12-18 year olds with 54% of Quitline clients successfully quitting at four-week follow-up; over 700 hours of substance use education delivered in schools - Up to two-thirds of cannabis used without prescription consists of diverted medicinal cannabis; Community Drug and Alcohol Team received 236 referrals with 78% alcohol-related ### [Action for Children expands housing capacity by 70% as youth referrals rise](https://www.thequarry.media/action-for-children-expands-housing-capacity-by-70-as-youth-referrals-rise/) Published 26 May 2026 - Action for Children increased accommodation capacity by 70% through MSP House development as youth housing referrals rose over 40% - The charity received 99 new referrals in 2025, with 57 relating to housing and homelessness and 34 concerning substance use issues - A new website attracted 325 unique visitors in 40 days whilst social media expansion increased reach by over 40% - Education programmes delivered 749 hours of PSHE lessons including new vaping support responding to emerging youth trends - Action Mentoring service launched with 10 trained volunteers, with plans to extend to younger age groups in 2026 ### [Independence reports 77% treatment success rate as demand for services continues](https://www.thequarry.media/independence-reports-77-treatment-success-rate-as-demand-for-services-continues/) Published 26 May 2026 - Independence reports 77% planned treatment exit rate in 2025, significantly exceeding UK's 46% completion rate, with 109 clients supported through treatment across alcohol, drug and gambling issues - Clinical outcomes show 63% of eligible clients achieved successful exits, with case studies demonstrating clients moving from high-risk to low-risk categories through evidence-based interventions - Criminal Justice Substance Service achieved 82% success rate with 18 successful completions from 22 recorded outcomes, with 90% of clients reporting reduced likelihood of reoffending - Needle exchange service records lowest usage in 10 years with ageing user population and no new injectors identified, though confidentiality concerns in small community remain a barrier to access - Organisation secures Social Investment Fund backing for gambling services 2026-2029 but highlights resource constraints limiting ability to support all who may benefit, whilst raising concerns over absence of THC public health messaging ### [World-class speakers to address Guernsey parents on smartphone dangers as England makes phone-free schools law](https://www.thequarry.media/world-class-speakers-to-address-guernsey-parents-on-smartphone-dangers-as-england-makes-phone-free-schools-law/) Published 26 May 2026 - Community group representing 600 Guernsey families hosting free event on childhood smartphone use on 20 June at Les Beaucamps High School - London headteacher David Smith, who banned smartphones at his school after 97% of pupils received 50+ daily notifications, will speak - Event follows England making phone-free schools legally mandatory with Ofsted inspection compliance, whilst France and Australia introduce bans - Data protection expert Emma Martins will explain how technology companies engineer addiction in children and outline harm-reduction strategies - Organisers say gathering will bring together parents, teachers, healthcare professionals and States Deputies to shape island's response to issue ### [Guernsey would rank 32nd in European LGBTQ+ rights, says charity launching community survey](https://www.thequarry.media/guernsey-would-rank-32nd-in-european-lgbtq-rights-says-charity-launching-community-survey/) Published 27 May 2026 - Liberate Guernsey calculates the island would rank 32nd out of 50 European jurisdictions for LGBTQ+ rights using ILGA-Europe criteria - The charity has launched the first comprehensive survey of Channel Islands LGBTQ+ lives, with over 120 responses so far - An estimated 6,000 LGBTQ+ people may live in the Channel Islands based on UK statistics - Two writing competitions are running during Pride Month, including one offering a £100 prize - A UK Government petition will open calling for a public inquiry into Section 28's lasting impact ### [Guernsey representatives celebrate DofE Award 70th anniversary at Buckingham Palace](https://www.thequarry.media/guernsey-representatives-celebrate-dofe-award-70th-anniversary-at-buckingham-palace/) Published 26 May 2026 - Ten Guernsey representatives attended Buckingham Palace for The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Gold Award Ceremony and 70th anniversary celebrations - The delegation included DofE coordinators, trainers and champions from schools across Guernsey - Prince Edward presented at the event, which featured speeches from Angela Hartnett OBE, Tasha Ghouri and Ash Dykes, plus a surprise appearance by Billy Monger - The ceremony recognised Gold Award participants and celebrated staff and volunteers supporting the programme - The Guernsey DofE team is inviting local participants to share stories and photos from across the decades as part of anniversary celebrations ### [Guernsey Post introduces heritage plates to celebrate island post box stories](https://www.thequarry.media/guernsey-post-introduces-heritage-plates-to-celebrate-island-post-box-stories/) Published 26 May 2026 - Guernsey Post is installing heritage plates on 27 decommissioned post boxes across the island to preserve their historical stories - The post boxes will remain blue, whilst brown heritage plates will identify them as part of a heritage trail - Each plate features a QR code linking to webpages with historical details about each box and other heritage locations - Box 89 on Fort Road still shows visible damage from a 1944 RAF raid on Fort George during the Occupation - The initiative coincides with a new stamp issue launching on 27 May celebrating the island's post box heritage [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/48/0b/480bfed6-f3f7-4a48-9efe-fae23adf5d03/content/images/2026/05/Copy-of-cryptic_cracker-1.png)](https://https//crypticcracker.thequarry.media/?ref=thequarry.media) Click to play Cryptic Cracker ### [Adult cycle training sessions return for the summer](https://www.thequarry.media/adult-cycle-training-sessions-return-for-the-summer/) Published 26 May 2026 - Adult cycle training sessions return on Sunday 7 June, running every two weeks until end of September - Sessions delivered by Traffic & Highway Services' Bikeability instructors cater to all experience levels - Training includes both Bikeability Adult and Cycle Confidence opportunities in supportive settings - Previous participants have progressed from traffic-free environments at their own pace - Initiative forms part of ongoing work to encourage active travel across the island ### [Financial ombudsman awards nearly £2m in compensation from 405 cases](https://www.thequarry.media/financial-ombudsman-awards-nearly-2m-in-compensation-from-405-cases/) Published 22 May 2026 - CIFO awarded £1,979,865 in compensation after closing 403 cases from 405 opened during the period - Banking sector accounted for 64% of complaints, with current accounts the top product at 52% - Poor administration and delay was the leading issue, cited in 23% of cases - 60% of cases were settled informally, with total settlements exceeding reported compensation figures - The ombudsman received 571 complaints across five main sectors including banking, insurance and pensions ### [Big Geekend returns to Guernsey Museum alongside week of wellbeing events](https://www.thequarry.media/big-geekend-returns-to-guernsey-museum-alongside-week-of-wellbeing-events/) Published 22 May 2026 - The Big Geekend returns to Guernsey Museum on 30-31 May after a four-year break, featuring activities ranging from fossils and archaeology to K-Pop cosplay and Bridgerton crafts - Visitors in full costume receive free admission, with attractions including a karting competition, puppets, fantasy encampment and living history displays - Well-Geeking Week runs 25-29 May during half term, offering wellbeing-focused activities including photography walks, Japanese tea ceremony and guided nature walks - Adult admission costs £7, with reduced rates for students and children aged 7-17, and free entry for under-sevens and Discovery Pass holders - Most Well-Geeking Week events are free but require advance booking via Eventbrite due to limited capacity ### [Guernsey included in UK free trade agreement with six gulf states](https://www.thequarry.media/guernsey-included-in-uk-free-trade-agreement-with-six-gulf-states/) Published 22 May 2026 - Guernsey included in UK-Gulf Cooperation Council free trade agreement covering goods and financial services - Agreement strengthens trading position with six Gulf states: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE - States of Guernsey worked closely with UK to secure island's interests in negotiations - Expected to support growth in financial and professional services sectors and create new business opportunities - Part of wider strategy to reduce barriers and enable Guernsey businesses to access global markets ### [Government's revision of social security proposals in GST+ welcomed by Chamber](https://www.thequarry.media/governments-revision-of-social-security-proposals-in-gst-welcomed-by-chamber/) Published 21 May 2026 - Guernsey Chamber of Commerce welcomes Government's revised approach to social security changes within GST+ package - Employer social security rates to rise to 7.6 per cent rather than originally proposed 8 per cent, it says, with more gradual phasing - Social security for employees and self-employed will apply only on earned income, with aligned treatment between both groups - Chamber secured key business needs including transparency, manageable phasing, fairness and simplicity in implementation - Changes come alongside GST, secondary pensions, minimum wage changes and wider tax reform landing simultaneously ### **ICMYI - Dig This** ## Guernsey Gazette [Torteval Parish is seeking court approval to collect £91,441 in owner's rates and £61,000 in refuse rates for the year July 2026 to June 2027.](https://gazette.guernseypress.com/notices/8896?ref=thequarry.media) [Hawthorn Leisure Holdings No. 7 Limited is entering voluntary liquidation with joint liquidators Matthew Wright and Sophie Smith appointed.](https://gazette.guernseypress.com/notices/8906?ref=thequarry.media) [RVL Aviation Limited has applied for a licence to operate cargo-only flights between Guernsey and Jersey.](https://gazette.guernseypress.com/notices/8904?ref=thequarry.media) ## GFSC notices [Guernsey performs well in global peer review of reinsurance and risk transfer](https://www.gfsc.gg/news/guernsey-performs-well-global-peer-review-reinsurance-and-risk-transfer?ref=thequarry.media) [The Guernsey Financial Services Commission welcomes inclusion of Guernsey in UK-Gulf Free Trade Agreement](https://www.gfsc.gg/news/guernsey-financial-services-commission-welcomes-inclusion-guernsey-uk-gulf-free-trade?ref=thequarry.media) ### Information Hub **[Planning Applications and Decisions](https://www.thequarry.media/whats-happening-near-you-this-weeks-planning-approvals/)** **[Roadworks and Closures](https://www.thequarry.media/roadworks-latest/)** **[Weather and Tides](https://www.thequarry.media/weather-and-tides/)** --- ### VR Gallery Explore our virtual reality galleries. **[The Quarry VR Gallery](https://www.thequarry.media/the-quarry-vr-gallery/)** **[Ste Apolline's Chapel](https://www.thequarry.media/discover%5Fguernsey%5Fste%5Fapollines%5Fchapel%5Fvirtual%5Ftour/)** --- *If you'd like to back our independent journalism further please consider [becoming a paid subscriber or member](https://www.thequarry.media/#/portal/). 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