Abu Dhabi's Al Rahba Hospital partially closed for upgrade

While the upgrades are made, inpatients in some wards will be transferred to other facilities within the Seha network

Dr Gareth Goodier, CEO of Seha, at the Arab Health conference held at Dubai World Trade Centre in January. Pawan Singh / The National

Patients undergoing treatment at Al Rahba Hospital in Abu Dhabi will be transferred to other clinics as the 190-bed facility undergoes an extensive upgrade.

An announcement to partially close the hospital while improvements are carried out was made by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha), which runs the capital's publicly-owned hospitals.

Since opening in 2003, the hospital has become a hub for advanced secondary care.

Careful planning has been put in place to ensure the seamless transition while the works are carried out

During the closure, outpatient services will continue as normal, but the hospital’s emergency room will be temporarily used as a 24-hour care service with scaled-back facilities.

“This new upgrade is in line with our strategy and will build on our track record of offering best-in-class services for the community, placing Abu Dhabi on the global map of healthcare excellence,” said deputy chief executive of Seha Rashid Saif Al Qubaisi.

“We have a proud legacy of providing high-quality care for patients and this facility overhaul will further strengthen our offering.

“Patients remain our number one priority and during this period their safety and care is our focus.

“Careful planning has been put in place to ensure the seamless transition while the works are carried out.”

While the upgrades are made, inpatients in the paediatric, maternity, surgery, internal medicine and neonatal wards will be transferred to other facilities within the Seha network.

Some patients have already been transferred to other clinics, including those on paediatric, maternity and neonatal wards who are now receiving care at Corniche Hospital, the country’s largest maternity hospital.

Others have been transferred to Sheikh Khalifa Medical City and Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City.

Although the length of the closure has not been announced, extensive alternative Seha clinics and hospitals are available.

Al Bahia Healthcare Centre, Al Samha Healthcare Centre, Al Falah Healthcare Centre and Madinat Khalifa Healthcare Centre, are all within a 25-minute drive of Al Rahba Hospital.

People requiring immediate care are encouraged to visit Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City or Sheikh Khalifa Medical City’s emergency departments.

Seha’s hospitals and health centres accommodate 100,000 inpatients and carry out 41,000 surgeries annually.

The facilities treat more than five million outpatients every year.