The long-awaited new mental health and addictions facility in St. John’s is one step closer to opening its doors.

Yesterday, the province marked the end of the construction phase of the project, and the beginning of the operational phase.

Various stakeholders and members of the media were given tours of the facility, showcasing its spacious and colourful interior, modern rooms and facilities, and outdoor spaces for patients.

While there is still some minor work being done on the inside of the facility, NL Health Services now has operational control of the building.

Over the next several months they will be preparing staff for the transition from the 169-year-old Waterford Hospital to the new facility.

As NL Health Services interim CEO Karen Stone explains, moving patients from the old hospital will be no small feat.

She says that requires a lot of planning. They plan on doing a dry run of how it will work over the winter, with a target of moving patients in sometime in April. She says it will be a one-day turnaround, similar to how they transitioned to the new Corner Brook hospital.

In terms of staffing for the new facility, NL Health Services says 350 staff will work there, including 29 new positions, with recruitment efforts ongoing.