MONTEGO BAY, St James — If there is good news from air quality tests now being done at Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH), administrative staff could be back in the main building within a matter of weeks.

“I believe that it should be sometime this month. In fact, if you look across there, it’s finished; they are just setting to check the air quality before we move in there,” Western Regional Health Authority Clinical Coordinator Dr Delroy Fray told the media on Monday, during a tour of the hospital by the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP).

Dr Fray’s timelines are in line with those Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton provided during a meeting of the Standing Finance Committee of the House of Representatives last week.

Plagued by air quality issues because of mould and an aged plant that was not adequately maintained, CRH has been undergoing a massive fix for years. The project has been bedevilled by delays, including those caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Some missed timelines have also been a result of the need to expand the scope of the initial project as the extent of the work needed became clear.

“The air quality testing means we are near the end,” Dr Fray assured.

“You might ask, ‘Why admin?’ If you notice, that’s the entry to the hospital, the area that we wouldn’t be disturbing the rest of the work in the hospital,” he explained.

Dr Fray also provided an update on other areas that should come on stream as part of the phased reopening of what is being billed as a state-of-the art facility.

“IT, dietary and — later on this year — accident and emergency, and these rest of the floors now; we will take it at each level as we go along,” he said.

“The Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) we are hoping very soon — probably by the end of this year, based on how it is progressing — to have that well fitted out in order for us to move back in there,” he added.

Dr Fray was unable to provide a specific timeline but was optimistic that targets set would be accomplished.

“I believe the team here now, which is dealing with this aspect of it, they are working very assiduously and I believe that we will achieve our goal. I don’t want to tell you a timeline but most of it is all refurbished as we speak,” he assured.

He instead highlighted improvements that patients and visitors will see when the hospital reopens.

“The third floor is where the modern X-ray facility will be fitted out with every machine you can think about — CT, ultrasound, MRI — and on the other side is really an open area that the patients can sit,” the health official explained.

“The clinics will be on the third floor as well, on both sides, where our patients will come in. I suspect, though, later this year that this entire third floor will be completed. However, it is most important because working activity is still going on, we will not allow the clinic to come right away because there will be too much traffic,” he disclosed.

He also provided an update on equipment being procured from overseas suppliers for CRH and the nearby Western Children and Adolescents Hospital.

“Most of the equipment for this hospital is going to be brand new. As we speak, we have a team in China with our former senior medical officer, and our project manager, and one of our maintenance personnel, and some people from the ministry, who are looking at these equipment to make sure we are getting the best equipment there is for the hospital,” Dr Fray said.