Merger hospital AZ Oostende practical: this will change soon

The process is underway to reactivate the recognition of AV Henri Serruys. Both hospitals will therefore have their own recognition but work under 1 board and 1 management. From November 1, the hospitals will also do this under a new name AZ Oostende – Damiaan and AZ Oostende – Serruys.

Two hospital locations

Due to the close collaboration, the medical services of both hospitals will gradually be redistributed between the two hospital locations. In AZ Oostende – Damiaan (Gouweloosstraat 100/Konterdamkaai) the emphasis will be on acute care. In AZ Oostende – Serruys (Kaïrostraat 84) you will eventually be able to go more for outpatient, outpatient and day hospital activities and non-acute care.

Two fully merged services will soon be available

In order to work efficiently with resources and personnel, two services will soon completely merge: Maternity and Pediatrics. The doctors and nurses from both hospitals will provide all care at one location. From the end of October you will find both unified departments in AZ Oostende – Damiaan. Underwater births will also be possible there. Preparations will then be made in AZ Oostende – Serruys to establish the sleep center, the multidisciplinary pain clinic and the centers for locomotor skills (elective orthopedics, locomotor rehabilitation), plastic surgery and ophthalmology. In the future, the planned admissions and procedures will also be centralized in AZ Oostende – Serruys.

New service

A new resident Medical Oncology care unit will start in AZ Oostende – Damiaan from October 30. Anyone undergoing treatment can from then on go to the new location for day treatments and admission. From November 1, all treatments will be centralized in AZ Oostende – Damiaan.

Transitional period

From October 27 to November 13 there will be a transition period during which the care offering in AZ Oostende – Serruys (Kaïrostraat) will be temporarily reduced. All care will then remain insured in AZ Oostende – Damiaan. The Emergency Service (Specialized Emergency Care Function) with MUG is guaranteed in AZ Oostende – Damiaan (entrance via Konterdamkaai), but in AZ Oostende – Serruys a first emergency room continues to be provided. For urgent care, it is best to go straight to AZ Oostende – Damiaan during this short period.

Renovation works

In the meantime, the renovation works associated with the merger are also taking shape. For example, work is underway at AZ Oostende – Damiaan to optimally organize the unified Maternity and Neonatal Care service. The construction of the Mid-Coast GP waiting post next to the Emergency Department of AZ Oostende – Damiaan is entering the final phase. After the opening, primary care will be offered from this post outside the regular opening hours of general practitioners.

Towards a unified hospital

In the period following November 1, 2023, both hospitals will continue to work towards the merged hospital. The official merger is scheduled for January 1, 2026. In preparation for this, some medical services at both locations will be reorganized in the period 2023-2025. Acute care will gradually shift to AZ Oostende – Damiaan and planned activities will largely shift to AZ Oostende – Serruys. Both hospitals continue to organize consultations, hospitalizations, day hospital activities and rehabilitations.