Health ministry expands A&E unit of Cornwall Regional Hospital outpost

The health ministry has expanded the accident and emergency (A&E) unit of the Cornwall Regional Hospital outpost, which is expected to open in another week.

The A&E unit now operates from the Mount Salem clinic to facilitate the renovation of the hospital building.

“We would have almost, if not doubled the capacity at that facility,” Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton told JIS NEWS.

“So it will be a lot easier, more efficient to administer accident and emergency cases,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tufton said an additional 80 beds would be added to the main Cornwall Regional building within four weeks, bringing the total room count to 300.

He said ground has been broken for an additional facility for diagnostics, pointing out that a number of diagnostic services were previously outsourced “because we couldn’t use the main building”.

Tufton emphasised that enhanced service provision is the main priority of the health ministry as it relates to the operations of the Cornwall Regional Hospital.

He commended the members of staff, whom he noted “continue to give yeoman service, working very diligently”.

The health minister also hailed the collaboration with Falmouth Hospital in Trelawny “where we have added about 50-plus rooms doing elective surgeries”.

The Government is spending over $3 billion to undertake renovations and repairs at the Cornwall Regional Hospital.

 The scope of work includes upgrading of the ventilation system, roof repairs and redesign of some floors.