Introduction: Delivering optimal patient care in a three-location hospital during the move to a single new building is complex. Limited information is available in the literature on the medical and nursing implications of moving hospitals, especially for critically ill patients. We assessed the numbers of patients, special equipment and treatments on a regular day versus the day of patient transportation. Methods: A two time-point survey of in-hospital patients, equipment and treatments on a regular day versus the day of patient transportation in a 525-bed secondary referral centre with 12 ICU beds. Data from all in-hospital patients (wards and ICU) were gathered four months before and on the day of the actual moving of patients. Four days before the hospital move, admissions to general wards were stopped, ICU admission was continued as normal. Results: The admission stop prior to the move led to a reduction in the number of in-hospital patients (118 patients (day of move) vs. 311 patients (regular day)). On the day of the move significant case-mix differences were observed on comparison with a regular day. Coronary Care patient numbers dropped markedly (2.6% vs. 0%). More patients had to be transported in special beds (8.5% vs. 0.6%). Numbers of ambulant patients and wheelchair patients were reduced (4.2% vs. 21.9% and 11.0% vs. 31.2% respectively). In addition, more patients needed to be accompanied by medical doctors (9.3% vs. 2.9%) and nurses (84.7% vs. 60.5%). The number of DNR-orders was significantly higher than on a regular day (28.9% vs. 10.3%). In the non-ICU environment special treatment frequency (e.g. oxygen therapy and indwelling catheters) did change markedly. In the ICU no decline in treatment intensity was noted. Conclusions: Physicians making decisions regarding the care of ICU patients during hospital moving should take into account that a hospital-wide admission stop will not lead to important reductions of the numbers of patients to be transported from a mixed ICU. On the other hand on regular wards, case-mix and use of special beds, equipment, and personnel resources may differ markedly from regular days. This may have implications for the planning process and allocation of personnel and budgets. Copyright © 2008, Nederlandse Vereniging voor Intensive Care. All Rights Reserved.