The social affairs sub-panel in charge of the Overdale Hospital review heard evidence on Friday from nursing homes registration and inspection manager Christine Blackwood, who said that there was research to show that people could die sooner if unsettled.
At the moment, elderly patients from the dilapidated Léoville and McKinstry wards are gradually being moved from States-paid beds into private sector care.
Health and Social Services cannot provide sufficient public accommodation unless a new facility is created.
Currently the main private provider of care for those patients is Silver Springs nursing home, which has been newly built in the last two years.
Mrs Blackwood said: ‘There is good research to suggest that when you move elderly patients, there is likely to be some mortality.
Of course, what you never know is if that person would have died anyway, but I do know from past experience that when there have been home closures there have been deaths.’ However, Mrs Blackwood, who conducts twice-yearly unannounced inspections of all private care homes in Jersey, said that she was confident that the facilities at Silver Springs were up to scratch and would provide the best care for all elderly patients, regardless of whether they were States or private-paid.
