They are packing up and heading west

Mark Hurst leads the charge for the hospital relocation. Earlier this week Hurst packed up his gear in gondolas and headed west on Hwy 17. Photos provided.

Over the next two weeks staff members from the The North Bay General Hospital (NBGH) and the Northeast Mental Health Centre (NEMHC) will be moving into the new North Bay Regional Health Centre.

Officials say staff members have been purging and packing their offices under the guidance of our movers Health Care Relocations (HCR), and each department has been designated a specific time and day for the move.

They also note the excitment in the air and say this move, which will bring everyone under one roof to provide both acute and mental health care, has been a long awaited event for the close to 2000 staff.

The staff relocation is in front of the final big push which is the patients move -- NEMHC takes place Jan 29th and NBGH Jan 30th.