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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) today (May 14) announced that an initial assessment team led by Dr Liu Shao-haei, Chief Manager (Infection, Emergency and Contingency) will depart for Chengdu, Sichuan tomorrow (May 15) in preparation for the deployment of a volunteer medical team from HA to help handle the casualties of the earthquake, in particular at West China Hospital.
Mr Anthony Wu, HA Chairman, said that every member of the HA family is deeply saddened by the terrible tragedy and many colleagues have been asking what they can do to help.
"We have been discussing among senior executives and with the Government to see what we can do and one of the challenges is understanding the need so we can respond the best way possible," remarked Mr Wu.
The team will assess the need of the hospital in various clinical specialties and carry out a situation assessment on the need of further emergency deployment.
Other members of the team include Dr Chow Yuk-yin, Chief of Service (Orthopaedics and Traumatology), Tuen Mun Hospital; Professor Leung Kwok-sui, Head of Trauma Team, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Chinese University of Hong Kong; and Mr Leo Cheung, HA's Project Officer (Infection, Emergency and Contingency)/ Intensive Care Unit Nurse.
"A medical team is getting prepared and will be dispatched when needed," said HA Chief Executive Mr Shane Solomon, after meeting the initial assessment team members with HA Chairman at his office today to discuss the support they will need for the mission.
Mr Solomon expressed his appreciation for the enthusiasm and commitment of staff members, "whether as volunteers for various emergency relief organisations or being deployed by HA to support the Mainland medical institutions, they will be given authorised absence on full pay for a maximum period of four weeks and some pay days for rest and recuperation when they return."
HA also appealed to staff members to donate to a designated bank account to support the Mainland rescue and recovery operation.
Ends/Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Issued at HKT 20:55
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