************************************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
Regarding the services of the 18 designated clinics and the nine Special Assessment Centres, the Hospital Authority spokesperson provided the following updates today (October 11):
The 18 designated clinics today (as at 5pm) provided initial assessment to 1,000 patients. Patients who require further assessment and treatment have been referred to the Special Assessment Centres (SACs). A total of 36,777 attendances have been reported at the designated clinics since they began operations on September 23.
People are reminded to note the service hours of the 18 designated clinics tomorrow (Sunday, October 12) are from 9am to 1pm. The service provision and operating hours of the clinics are under close monitoring and will be adjusted appropriately to meet the demand.
As at today, the Centre for Health Protection has received six reports of Melamine tainted milk products-related renal stone in children. Five were reported by the Hospital Authority. Out of the five cases, two were diagnosed by the authority's free medical screening and assessment services at designated clinics and SACs that began on September 23. Among the five children, four have been sent home and are well. For the confirmed case of a 10 year-old boy which was announced yesterday, the patient did not require admission and is being follow up at Kwong Wah Hospital with stable condition.
People are reminded that the designated clinics and SACs will be in operation for at least six months and as long as there is demand for the service. Parents will not need to compete for appointments if their children are asymptomatic. Children who could not be assessed at the designated clinics on the same day of attendance will be given an earliest possible appointment in the following days. In the coming three days, a total of about 1,200 appointments have already been made at the 18 designated clinics.
The Hospital Authority reiterated that the free screening service was a contingency arrangement with a prime focus on local children who had an "eligible person" status. Other patients will be referred to private healthcare providers to reserve adequate capacity for the locals.
Ends/Saturday, October 11, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:47
NNNN
