ST JAMES, Jamaica – After completion of the rehabilitation project underway at the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) in St James, patients will be able to access free colonoscopy service at the State-run Type A facility.

“We will have an endoscopy suite in the operating theatre. And let me give you an idea of what that is. Every single person, doesn’t matter what problems you have, once you’re over 45 years of age, you should have a colonoscopy done. In the private sector, the cost for colonoscopy will run you somewhere about $65,000. We want to put in a suite where our public patient will be able to access colonoscopy services at the Cornwall Hospital free of cost,” disclosed Dr Delroy Fray, clinical coordinator, CRH.

“I take pride in telling my colleagues when I travel that we have one of the best radiation oncology services at Cornwall Region Hospital,” he added.

He revealed that eight additional specialities will be offered at CRH after the rehabilitation project is completed.

“Prior to closing down, we had 27 specialities at the time. With this refurbished hospital we are going to run 35 specialities in the hospital,” Dr Fray said.

He added that the refurbished hospital will boast 220 additional beds.

“Before we had before 450 and we’re gonna add 220 more beds. Do the mathematics,” Dr Fray noted.

He was speaking at a CRH town-hall meeting held under the theme: “Renew and Restore” at the Montego Bay Civic Centre on Thursday.