New Cornwall Regional Hospital A&E to open in coming weeks - Tufton

Following months of severe overcrowding and intense pressure on frontline medical staff, Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton today reported that the state-of-the-art Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department at Cornwall Regional Hospital will be open to the public shortly.

Residents served by the Montego Bay, St James-based hospital have been navigating severe challenges since renovation work began in 2019.

Speaking at this morning’s post-Cabinet press briefing, the Health Minister revealed that the department will be officially opened by the Prime Minister in the coming weeks.

“The new A&E facility at Cornwall Regional Hospital represents a significant advancement in emergency healthcare delivery for Western Jamaica, providing a modern, spacious and integrated environment designed to support the rapid assessment, stabilisation, diagnosis and treatment of critically ill and injured patients. This new area will have all the full A&E services, trauma, ambulatory, walk-ins and emergency services. There are also 10 observation beds for 24-hour observation, examination rooms and other support services,” Tufton said.

According to him, the new A&E is twice the size of the original space.

“Special features will include two operating theatres with contactless entry, two minor operating theatres, staff area with on-call space and wellness area, dedicated ultrasound and ECG rooms, dedicated A&E autoclave, dedicated A&E imaging suite with CT scan and digital X-ray, asthma bay, observation bay, security posts, medical records. Additionally, movement to the A & E on the main building will see a 35 new bed capacity provided in the spaces occupied currently by A & E,” the Health Minister told the media.

Citing risks to patients and staff, earlier this year, nurses and junior doctors staged protest action over what they said were unsafe working conditions, excessive workloads and chronic overcrowding at the hospital, particularly in the A&E Department.

- Karen Madden

Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.