Sault Area Hospital moves its moving date

Sault Area Hospital's board of directors voted last night to move into the new hospital about two weeks earlier than planned.

The new move-in date is now Sunday, March 6, 2011.

When ground was broken two years ago for the new Sault Area Hospital on Third Line, the move-in date was April 2011.

A short time ago, it was announced that the hospital would be ready for occupation in October 2011.

"Initially we had that period from October to April to get moved in," said hospital Director of Communications and Public Affairs Mario Paluzzi. "We are also working with Health Care Relocators, a company that moves hospitals."

After last night's meeting of the hospital board, Paluzzi said the company will be moving the North Bay hospital just prior to Sault Area Hospital.

At its September meeting and after consultations with Health Care Locators the board decided to set the move for March 20, 2011.

"Rather than have an empty building that was fully functional," he said. "We decided to move in as soon as we could."

But now it looks like the move will be accommodated even sooner.

Two weeks sooner.

Max Liedke, hospital chief financial officer, told directors the move will happen in two phases.

Phase 1 will take place from Februrary 7 to 12, 2011 and will involve the transfer of records, files, items in storage, items needed for maintenance, logistics, laundry and other heavy things.

This period will also be used to install and commission equipment, ensure it's functioning properly and train staff on it.

Phase 2 will proceed from February 21 to March 6. "It will include all remaining hospital services and culminate in the patient move on March 6," Liedke said.

Paluzzi said that all patients in the 289-bed hospital will be moved in one day.

He also said there will be much more information released to the public about what to expect when the time is closer.