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The following press release is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
Regarding the services of the 18 Designated Clinics and the seven Special Assessment Centres, the Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson provides the following updates today (23 September):
As at 5:00pm today, the 18 Designated Clinics have provided initial assessment to 1,328 patients, that have exceeded significantly the original quota of 900. Patients who required further assessment and treatment have been referred to the Special Assessment Centres. On the other hand, the seven Assessment Centres totally attended to 365 patients today. There is no patient requiring admission.
In view of the hoisting of Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 this evening, the arrangement for all patients who have obtained an appointment at the Designated Clinics and Special Assessment Centres tomorrow (Wednesday, 24 September) is that they will be attended to once the Clinics and Centres resume services two hours after the cancellation of Warning Signal No. 8.
The Designated Clinics and Assessment Centres will be operated as long as there is a demand for the service, hence, parents will not need to rush to obtain an early appointment if their children are asymptomatic.
The HA would like to reiterate that the free screening service is a contingency arrangement with a prime focus on local children who have an ˇ§entitled personˇ¨ status. Other patients will be referred to private healthcare providers to reserve adequate capacity for the locals.
Ends/Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Issued at HKT 19:18
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