CEO David Crowe, who has worked at Figtree Private for the past 20 years, could barely contain his excitement.
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The foyer of Wollongong Private Hospital was a hive of activity on Monday morning, as the gleaming new building opened its doors.
Doctors and nurses mingled with visitors clutching bouquets for the 20-odd patients being transferred from Figtree to their brand new rooms, while the last of the construction and set-up crews worked around them.
"There’s been a lot of hard work and a lot of planning, and we’ve been transition planning for every possible scenario for the past two years."
Standing among the hubbub Chief Executive Officer David Crowe, who has worked at Figtree Private for the past 20 years, could barely contain his excitement.
Plans for the hospital were signed off by the NSW government in April 2011, and two years ago the first sod was turned.
Since then Mr Crowe has been fixated on the date January 18, knowing it would be a stressful, busy and exhilarating day.
“There’s been a lot of hard work and a lot of planning, and we’ve been transition planning for every possible scenario for the past two years,” he said.
“We chose the January 18 because it’s quieter, as many of the surgeons have January off.”
Things will ramp up over the next month as all existing staff and more than 100 new employees return to work, he said, with the hospital to be at full capacity with a new cardiothorasic ward open by July.
For Surgical Ward Nursing Unit Manager Liz Lansom, moving in to the new environment brought a mix of emotions.
“It’s been a long gestation over the past couple of years,” the former midwife said. “I’m just so excited – it’s a brand new facility and a great opportunity for the Illawarra area.”
However she said it was hard saying goodbye to Figtree hospital after working there for 26 years.
“When I was packing up my office on Saturday it was like the walls were talking,” Ms Lansom said.
“I’ve met new people, seen young nurses go off and build their careers, people have passed away. The emotion was palpable and I cried for half an hour as I was finding photos.”
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