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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 24):
The 18 Designated Clinics today (as at 5pm) provided initial assessment to 704 patients. Patients who require further assessment and treatment have been referred to the Special Assessment Centres (SACs). The nine Assessment Centres attended to 435 patients today. A total of 44,102 attendances and 14,674 assessments have been reported at the Designated Clinics and SACs respectively since they began operations on September 23.
People are reminded that the Designated Clinics and SACs will open every Saturday from 9am to 1pm and close on Sundays. The clinics and SACs will be in operation for at least six months and as long as there is demand for the service. 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 around 800 appointments have already been made at the 18 Designated Clinics.
As of today, the Centre for Health Protection has received 10 reports of melamine tainted milk products-related renal stones in children. Out of the eight cases reported by the Hospital Authority, five were diagnosed under the Designated Clinics and SACs that began on September 23.
The authority said 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/Friday, October 24, 2008
Issued at HKT 19:18
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