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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 (HA) spokesperson provided the following updates today (October 13):
The 18 Designated Clinics today (as at 5pm) provided initial assessment to 667 patients. Patients who require further assessment and treatment have been referred to the Special Assessment Centres (SACs). The nine Assessment Centres attended to 502 patients today. A total of 38,328 attendances and 9,957 assessments have been reported at the Designated Clinics and SACs respectively since they began operations on September 23.
The HA has been closely monitoring the service provision and demand at the Designated Clinics and SACs, which has levelled off and become quite steady in the past week. Following a review, the HA decided to adjust from this week the service hours of the 18 Designated Clinics (the hours for the SACs will remain unchanged). The service hours are as follows:
Mondays - Fridays: 9am - 5pm
Saturdays: 9am - 1pm
Sundays and Public Holidays: Closed
The HA will continue to closely monitor the pattern and trend of service demand, and adjust the service hours and arrangements accordingly if required.
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 the earliest possible appointment in the following days. In the coming three days, a total of about 900 appointments have been made at the 18 Designated Clinics.
As of today, the Centre for Health Protection has received six reports of melamine tainted milk products-related renal stones in children. Out of the five cases reported by the HA, two were diagnosed under the Designated Clinics and SACs that began on September 23. Among the five children, four have been discharged, and one is being followed up at Kwong Wah Hospital on an out-patient basis. All are well and in stable condition.
The HA reiterated that the free screening service was a contingency arrangement with its 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 locals.
Ends/Monday, October 13, 2008
Issued at HKT 19:05
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