Abu Dhabi: A bulldozer on Thursday started to tear down one of the oldest hospital buildings here, the Central Hospital, which has served the Abu Dhabi community for more than four decades.
According to the management at Shaikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), full demolition of the old hospital should take four to five days.
The 40-year-old hospital was the first in Abu Dhabi.
"When Central Hospital merged with SKMC in 2004, several departments were closed. However, the Emergency Room and Renal Unit kept functioning until February 6 of this year, when SKMC was able to also transfer these services to other facilities at SKMC," said Dr Scott Strong, acting CEO of SKMC.
Strong added the closure of these two units were in line with plans to renovate facilities at SKMC, as indicated by Saif Al Qubaisi, Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Health Services Company.
As an alternative centre for urgent care, the Khalidiyah Urgent Care Centre was opened on the same day, while the renal unit was relocated to a newly renovated ward in the Medical Pavilion (previously known as Al Jazeerah Hospital).
Plans
It is not yet clear what the Central Hospital site will be used for. Plans are still being discussed.
For urgent problems that were previously treated at Central Hospital, patients should seek care at the new Khalidiyah Urgent Care Centre, at telephone number 02 665 3475.
The centre's working hours are 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
