National Chest Hospital: The Only Government Facility Offering Bronchoscopy Procedures

Kingston, Jamaica. Friday, May 16, 2025-The National Chest Hospital (NCH), Jamaica's

premier government facility for respiratory care, has reinforced its role as a leader in

pulmonary diagnostics with the recent acquisition of a new bronchoscopy tower and

advanced bronchoscopes. This upgraded equipment allows the medical team to conduct

high-precision procedures by navigating the patient’s airway using a fibre-optic endoscope,

with real-time imaging displayed on screen.

With these enhancements, the hospital’s medical team can now collect samples, perform

biopsies, and, in select cases, cauterize lung lesions. These capabilities are essential in

diagnosing underlying lung conditions and ensuring timely management and treatment.

Dr. Terry Baker, Senior Medical Officer at the National Chest Hospital, speaking during a tour

of the facility on May 15, 2025, emphasized the significance of the service:

“This specialized hospital, managed by the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA),

remains the only government institution in Jamaica offering bronchoscopy procedures. As a

result, we receive referrals from across the island”.

Dr. Baker also noted that bronchoscopy procedures are typically completed on the same

day, with most patients being discharged shortly after if there are no complications. The

complication rate, she confirmed, is very low. To date, the hospital has successfully

performed over 3,200 bronchoscopy procedures.

Located at 32 ½ Old Hope Road in Kingston, NCH offers a wide range of specialized

services, including:

 Adult Pulmonology

 Fibre-optic and rigid bronchoscopy

 Endobronchial and open lung biopsies

 Pleural biopsies

 Limited thoracoscopy

 Open resection of lung lesions

 Diagnosis and management of infectious diseases of the lung and pleura

 Rigid oesophagoscopy

 Surgical treatment of benign and malignant esophageal diseases in adults

For more information about the hospital, please call (876) 927-0000 or (876) 970-1205, or

visit our website at www.serha.gov.jm.

• Dr. Terry Baker, Senior Medical Officer at the National Chest Hospital, holds one of the attachments while explaining how procedures are performed using the new bronchoscopy tower during an official tour of the hospital on Thursday, May 15, 2025. Observing are (from right): Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, Minister of Health & Wellness; Ms. Nicole Brown (left), Director of Nursing Services at NCH; and Mr. Dwayne Francis, CEO of the Liguanea Region of Hospitals.