Milestone move: The hospital partly relocates to state-of-the-art facility

On 6 May 2024, the intensive care unit moved into the new care building in Malmö, Sweden.

Relocating departments with critically ill patients requires meticulous planning. Every minute mattered as patients and vital equipment were moved to the new care building at Skåne University Hospital in Malmö, Sweden.

After six years of work, the first part of the new care building on the Malmö hospital campus is complete. On 6 May 2024, the intensive care unit moved in, followed by two orthopaedic departments, the geriatric department, and the renal and transplant department on 7 May. The orthopaedic and neurology outpatient clinics moved on 13 May 2024.

"We've been planning for over a year, with every minute meticulously accounted for. We also doubled the staffing around the move to ensure smooth operations without jeopardising patient safety," explained Heléne Sjöström, head of Malmö's intensive care unit.

Take a look inside Malmö's new healthcare building

Subtitles in English.

Daily meetings

Moving departments without affecting care took extensive planning. Since the building was handed over in January, there have been busy days receiving deliveries to ensure everything for safe care is in place as healthcare activities fill the building.

"We've had daily meetings with moving department representatives, preparing for all possible events," said Carina Håkansson, lead project manager for healthcare transitions in the building.

Major healthcare upgrades

The initial part of the care building includes a larger intensive care unit, four wards, and outpatient clinics for orthopaedics and neurology. It also has five new cutting-edge operating theatres that will be operational in early 2025.

"This brings substantial improvements for healthcare, benefiting patients and staff alike. It greatly enhances operations and ensures excellent conditions for enhancing patient safety," explains Björn Ekmehag, hospital director at Skåne University Hospital.

Project progress

The hospital's main entrance has relocated to Inga Marie Nilssons gata 47, where an information desk and pharmacy are be available.

The new hospital campus in Malmö project also encompasses a service building housing a new laboratory and logistics centre, a new mortuary, an expanded pneumatic tube system, technical infrastructure, and culverts with self-driving trucks. Completion is slated for autumn 2025, coinciding with the readiness of the second phase of the care building, which includes an additional six wards and 18 operating theatres.

"We're thrilled and proud to offer care in our new, cutting-edge facility. It's an exciting milestone in Skåne University Hospital's development," states Björn Ekmehag.

In short: The new hospital building in Malmö

Construction began in 2018.

The building has ten wards with 244 single rooms, including 22 for intermediate care.

It houses outpatient clinics, including endoscopy, and features 23 operating theatres with preparation and postoperative areas.

Additionally, there's an intensive care unit for adults and children, and an arrival department for planned surgeries.

The building includes a sterile technology unit, public areas like a pharmacy, kiosk, and café.

The project also involves a service building with a laboratory, logistics centre, mortuary, and upgraded infrastructure, costing SEK 12.3 billion for construction and SEK 1.9 billion for equipment.