The new Weyburn General Hospital is officially accepting patients, beginning today. The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) announced earlier in the week that patient admissions, transfers and service transitions are scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 1. Patient transfers from the existing hospital to the new facility are expected to begin at 7 a.m. According to the SHA, staff plan to transfer one patient “approximately every three minutes,” with each move expected to take up to 20 minutes. Visitor access will be limited during patient transfers to ensure a smooth transition, according to the health authority. As a result, visiting hours on moving day will be 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. with a limit of two visitors per patient. The new facility’s emergency room opened at 6 a.m. Those requiring emergency care after that time should go directly to the new hospital. The new Weyburn General Hospital features 25 private acute care rooms, 10 inpatient health beds, an operating theatre, emergency department, trauma care spaces, lab and medical imaging spaces, an onsite EMS base with a heliport, ambulatory and allied health services, as well as offices. A total of $164 million was invested in the project, $134 million being provided by the province – with the remainder coming from the Weyburn and District Hospital Foundation. With files from Caitlin Brezinski and Mick Favel
