Aalborg’s new university hospital completes major patient transfer

The second of three large-scale relocations to Aalborg’s newly built university hospital took place on Tuesday, with 162 inpatients and the emergency department successfully transferred, reports DR.

The move marks a key milestone in the decade-long project to consolidate services at the new Hospitalsbyen (Hospital City) in Aalborg East. Fourteen departments, including the Acute and Trauma Centre—with its emergency reception and casualty ward—began operations at the new site at 05:00 local time.

Nini Bundgaard Ringgren, head nurse at the Acute and Trauma Centre, confirmed the transition went smoothly. “Everything has gone according to plan,” she said. “We’ve already received our first critical patient, and the team handled it exactly as they should.”

The relocation follows criticism after the first transfer a month ago, when staff struggled to locate essential supplies and medications. This time, Ringgren noted, extra personnel ensured all materials were correctly stocked in their usual storage locations.

Alongside the emergency department, the out-of-hours GP service has also moved to the new facility on Selma Lagerlöfs Vej, requiring patients to adjust to a new address. The emergency department alone recorded 62,500 patient contacts in 2025.

162 patients relocated in coordinated effort

At 07:00, the transfer of 162 bedridden patients began, a significantly larger operation than last month’s move of 80 patients. Originally, the region had planned to relocate 200 beds, but a focused effort to discharge as many patients as possible reduced the number.

Nicoline Hirtsholm Pedersen, the relocation programme coordinator, called the achievement “very impressive.” “The departments did excellent preparatory work,” she said. Under the plan, an ambulance departs with a patient every three minutes.

Once completed, all inpatient units from the old Sygehus Syd (South Hospital) will be operational in the new facility. For many staff, the move marks the end of an era. “It’ll feel strange to return to the old hospital on Monday—it won’t be the same,” Pedersen said. “Many have told me it’s bittersweet: sad to leave the old building but exciting to start in the new one.”

The final patient transfer, involving Sygehus Nord (North Hospital), is scheduled for 3 May. Full operation and the official inauguration of Hospitalsbyen are set for May 2026.