Premier Andrew Furey says construction has been completed on time and on budget for the new $750 million dollar Western Memorial Regional Hospital.

In an event this morning, the building was officially handed over by the Corner Brook Health Partnership (CBHP) to the premier. He says it will still take some time before patients are moved in.

Furey says this new, state of the art facility will draw people who work in healthcare to the west coast. As a doctor, the premier says it’s very satisfying to see this happen.

The new hospital was first announced in 2007. Immigration, Population and Skills Growth Minister Gerry Byrne and Corner Brook MHA says there were 10 announcements in 10 years.

Byrne says the rooms are all single beds and spacious. He says the new facility will also host an expanded cancer care program, including radiation services.

The seven-storey, 600,000 square foot facility has 164 beds, with the same services currently provided at the existing Western Memorial Regional Hospital. 

The geothermal system in the facility will translate into electricity savings of approximately 4,600,000 kWh annually, which is enough to heat 500 homes for a year, according to the government. 

Listen to CKVB's story with the premier below. Other stories today include Corner Brook Legionnaires expecting biggest Remembrance Day ever, Police Service Dog Marlow takes a bite out of crime and an Irishtown-Summerside woman gets a Seniors of Distinction award: