Accident and Emergency Department at Cornwall Regional Hospital expected to reopen by midyear

The Accident and Emergency Department of the Cornwall Regional Hospital in St. James, is expected to reopen by midyear.

Full restoration of the hospital is on track for later this fiscal year.

Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton gave the update during yesterday’s post Cabinet press briefing.

He noted that the rehabilitation work suffered some set backs due to Hurricane Melissa.

Dr. Tufton said once the A & E is re-opened, normal functions will resume at the Mount Salem Health Centre, where A & E services are being facilitated temporarily.

Up to last month, phase 3 of the redevelopment project was about 67 percent complete.

Renovation of the hospital has been a long and slow process over the years, with millions of dollars already spent to fix the ventilation system, upgrade electrical and plumbing systems, and retrofit some tower floors.