Saturday, October 19, 2002

Hospital Move Expected to be a smooth one
by Darrell Cole - The Citizen

AMHERST - The wait is almost over for the opening of the new Cumberland County Regional Hospital.

The move of patients and equipment from Highland View Regional Hospital to the new Cumberland County Regional Hospital is expected to have no problems.

"Our focus is a safe and efficient transition from one facility to the other," Cumberland Health Authority CEO Bruce Quigley said. "Detailed planning has been ongoing for several months and the move will be handled in a very organized and strategic fashion.

"The goal of our care teams in to maintain the provision of health care needs with as little disruption as possible."

Officials from Health Care Relocations of Peterborough, Ont. will be arriving in the Cumberland County this weekend and will begin the phased move of operations from Highland View to the new regional hospital.

On the days leading up to Oct. 27, admissions to Highland View will be limited to those requiring immediate attention.

Between Oct. 21-26 as many patients as possible will be discharged from Highland View in order to reduce the number of people to be transferred.

On Oct. 27, breakfast will be served earlier than normal with the actual patient move commencing at 7 a.m. Ambulances provided by Emergency Health Services will be utilized to move patients with direct input and assistance from physicians and other health care professionals.

Quigley added it is very important that family members do not come to the new hospital until everyone is settled and normal operations have commenced.

Hospital vice-president operations Rakesh Minocha said from the time the move begins to its completion patient care will be the primary goal and while things will be hectic no one will be left without care.

The move commences at Highland View on Sunday, Oct. 20 at 9 a.m. with the hospital auxiliary's gift shop while the first phase of the labs will move along with maintenance, the foundation office, palliative care and the IT office.