Senior Medical Officer, Dr Horace Betton made the disclosure during a tour of the institution by Governor General Sir Kenneth Hall and Lady Hall recently.

"Up to April, we saw as much as a 75 per cent increase; that figure has fallen back now to about 30 to 40 per cent. Our lab, however, is still suffering from large, large workloads," Betton told The Gleaner.

Betton said despite the increased workload, there had only been a minimal increase in the staff number but workers were coping. "It just means we go further beyond the call of duty," he said

X-ray service

Among the new addition to staff is a radiologist, who will now ensure that patients requiring X-ray service are tended to in a timely manner.

According to Betton: "2008 was a very challenging year but I think we have done very, very well. I think the entire health service in this country should be commended for the job they've done in this transition."

So far this year, the St Ann's Bay hospital, which falls within the North East Regional Health Authority (NERHA) zone, has seen 350,000 patients. Each month between 300 and 350 babies were born, averaging approximately 10 babies per week.