Over the next five years, its doctors, nurses and other workers will bond into a new team at the current Alexandra Hospital (AH).

Most of the 1,800-strong team now at AH will be moving to the new Khoo Tech Puat Hospital in Yishun, scheduled to open in phases from March 2010 with its specialist outpatient clinics.

The move will be completed by the time the entire 550-bed hospital is opened by September next year.

It will also need to recruit more staff, especially for junior positions, since the Yishun hospital is bigger.

JGH's newly-named chief executive officer, Mr Foo Hee Jug, currently chief operating officer at Singapore General Hospital, will move to AH in June. He will immediately start recruiting staff to take over positions vacated by the move to KTPH.

Mr Foo is expected to take over the running of the 350-bed Alexandra Hospital towards the end of next year. He will build up his team in preparation for his new hospital in Jurong East Region Centre, scheduled to open in 2014 - a year earlier than originally planned.

The exact location of the hospital has yet to be released, but it will be within walking distance of both MRT and the bus interchange.

Mr Foo has been in public health for the past 15 years, first at Toa Payoh Hospital, then Changi General before moving to SGH.

Mr Foo, who holds both a Masters degree in business administration and one in public health, is also the COO and chief procurement officer for the Singhealth cluster.

He will be assisted by Associate Professor Cheah Wei Keat, who has been appointed chairman of medical board for JGH. Prof Cheah is now head of general surgery at the National University Hospital.

In an Addendum to the President's Address in opening Parliament, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan promised: 'We will facilitate integration of care services so that patients can be cared for at the most appropriate settings.'

So in keeping with the other regional hospitals, JGH will have a 200-bed community hospital just next door. The two hospitals will be designed for easy movement of patients between them.