Stavanger University Hospital launched one of Norway's most complex medical relocations on Sunday morning. Approximately 190 patients began transferring from the old Våland facility to the new Ullandhaug hospital four kilometers away. Hospital director Helle Schøyen addressed staff at the 6 AM start meeting, acknowledging years of preparation for this meticulously planned operation.
The massive relocation involves 1,500 personnel including doctors, nurses, porters, ambulance staff, cleaners, and volunteers. Fifty-five ambulances transport patients at three-minute intervals, with intensive care patients moving every twenty minutes. The procession of emergency vehicles created a notable sight along Ullandhaugveien road Sunday morning.
This represents Norway's largest hospital relocation since Drammen Hospital moved 80 patients just one month earlier. Stavanger's operation involves more than double that number. Hospital management worked throughout the previous week to reduce patient numbers from the typical 450 to 250 on moving day, achieving even better results than planned.
The emergency department at VĂĄland closed at 5 AM Sunday as the new Ullandhaug facility simultaneously opened. Some staff began their first shifts at 4 AM, with the formal commencement marked by flag-raising and music at the old location. Ambulances were sourced from multiple hospitals plus Red Cross, Norwegian People's Aid, and patient transport services.
Hospital director Schøyen emphasized the mission remains unchanged: providing world-class specialist healthcare to 400,000 residents in Rogaland. Moving chief Elisabeth Haga Jacobsen had previously requested local residents avoid recreational activities like cross-country skiing or mountain biking near transport routes during the critical moving period.
Despite this historic transition, the old VĂĄland hospital won't sit empty. Several outpatient clinics and mental health services will remain there for years during a phased consolidation. This split operation concerns employee representatives who note the financial and logistical challenges of maintaining two locations.
Enterprise representative Gunn Elin Rosseland with the Norwegian Nurses Association expressed concern about the extended timeline. Employees face working across two separate sites with significant economic costs that will affect operations for years. Director Schøyen acknowledged she wishes she could provide staff with more predictability about when full consolidation at Ullandhaug will be complete.
The Stavanger hospital relocation represents Norway's ongoing healthcare infrastructure modernization. Such moves require extraordinary coordination between medical teams, transport services, and municipal authorities. The successful transfer of vulnerable patients demonstrates Norway's capacity for executing complex public health operations while maintaining continuous care standards.