It is going to be a history-making weekend as Yellowknifers says goodbye to the old Stanton Territorial Hospital and hello to the spanking new facility.
The new Stanton Territorial Hospital opens to patients on Sunday.
Sunday will also see the transfer of existing patients from the old facility to the new one right next door.
It’s expected to take about ten minutes to move each patient the from one hospital to the other.
Some of them will be in wheelchairs while others will remain in their hospital beds.
Residents are being asked to avoid both hospitals on Sunday unless they have an emergency.
Emergency patients, including women in labour, are reminded to go to the new hospital emergency ward as of 6:00 Sunday morning.
Officials from the territorial government’s Department of Health and Social Services say that in preparation for a safe transition, some services will be temporarily unavailable or available at reduced capacity.
They add that services are expected to be running regularly by the week of June 10.
Visit stantonrenewal.ca or follow @StantonRenewal on Twitter for a detailed breakdown of any closures or relocations.
In case you are wondering – the hospitals are named after Oliver Stanton – Yellowknife’s first doctor.