Royal Victoria-MUHC move went 'better than expected'

The move from the Royal Victoria emergency department to the new superhospital went "better than expected," a spokesperson says.

On Sunday, 154 patients were transferred from the old hospital's emergency department to the new McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) facility, hours ahead of schedule. 

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"Everything went really well," Richard Fahey told Daybreak on Monday.

"Now were going to take a little breather, ramp up activities on the adult site, and be ready for the May 24 move from the Children's."

Ambulances departed from the Royal Vic every three or four minutes beginning at 7 a.m. until the final patient arrived at the new site at 12:25 p.m.

While there were no problems reported during the transport of patients, the new MUHC had its first birth earlier than anticipated.

A healthy baby boy named Arthur was born at 6:55 a.m. while staff and volunteers were preparing for the move.

'No comparison'

Patients, meanwhile, are settling into the new facility.

Hazel Glenn Raimondo, a 79-year-old who was transferred on Sunday, said there's "no comparison" between the old facility and the new one.

"It's so bright, and the colours and the view is beautiful," Raimondo told Daybreak from her hospital bed.

The only problem was the television in her room didn't work, so she was unable to watch last night's series-winning victory by the Canadiens over the Senators.

"They had promised us that the TV would be functional, and for my mother that was the most important thing," said Hazel's daughter, Tina Raimondo‎.

After Montreal Children's moves on May 24, three other facilities will still need to be moved: 

• Montreal Chest Institute (June 14)
• Cedars Cancer Centre (an amalgamation of several MUHC sites, June 14)
• Shriners Hospital for Children (Fall 2015)