Around 1,000 additional endoscopies will be performed at Mallow General Hospital in Cork every year following the official opening of a new endoscopy suite.

Until now, the hospital has only had the capacity to carry out around 2,000 endoscopies annually, but this figure will now rise to over 3,000.

Endoscopy is a non-surgical technique which involves a doctor passing a small telescope with a light into a part of the body in order to obtain a clear view of a particular area. The telescope contains a small camera which transmits the images back to the doctor via a TV screen.

Endoscopies can be used to detect a range of health issues, from gallstones to colon cancer.

The new purpose-built suite contains two procedures rooms, a first stage recovery room and a discharge lounge.

"We have been working towards re-organising services at Mallow General over the last number of years. Part of this was a major extension for a replacement endoscopy suite and a new medical assessment unit. The management team is pleased that the new build is now complete, which brings the re-organisation of services at the hospital near to completion.

"The hospital is now in a very strong position to continue delivering healthcare services to benefit patients, staff and the local community in Mallow and north Cork," commented consultant physician at the hospital, Dr Neil Cronin.