IT MAY be two years before it opens its doors, but the upcoming Khoo Teck Puat Hospital will start filling up more than a thousand positions from Thursday.

It is looking to hire both medical and non-medical staff, from brain surgeons to accountants and cooks, at its first job fair on Thursday.

Other positions on offer include that of occupational therapists, medical social workers, porters and operations executives. Named after late hotel tycoon Khoo Teck Puat, the general hospital in Yishun is scheduled to be ready in 2010 and have 550 beds.

'An early head start will allow ample time for those who are not experienced in healthcare to get the necessary training,' said Mr Liak Teng Lit, chief executive officer at Alexandra Hospital, who will run the new hospital.

Most of Alexandra Hospital's staff will move to the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital when it is ready. A new team will take over at Alexandra Hospital.

Some of the jobs, for radiographers and pharmacists for instance, are for immediate vacancies at Alexandra Hospital. They will move to the new hospital in Yishun later.

The job fair will be held alongside a commemoration ceremony for Phase Two of the new hospital's construction, which will be attended by Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan.

The master plan for the development for the adjacent Yishun Pond will also be unveiled at the ceremony on Thursday afternoon.