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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) will implement the new service arrangements for managing patients who are suspected or confirmed with human swine influenza in both public hospitals and Designated Flu Clinics (DFCs) from next Monday (June 29), in view of the Government¡¦s announcement of a revision of the mitigation strategy for the human swine flu pandemic.
A spokesman for HA today (June 27) said that the admission and discharge criteria for patients confirmed human swine influenza would be based on their clinical conditions. Confirmed patients with mild symptoms would not be required for admission and would be provided with symptomatic treatment.
¡§The new arrangements will enable our hospitals to reserve adequate isolation facilities and manpower resources for the severe cases, as we are now having more confirmed cases each day.¡¨
On the service of Designated Flu Clinics, it will continue to attend to patients with fever and influenza-like-illness (ILI). However, its priority would be given to pregnant women, those aged two or below, and high risk groups; which include those suffering from chronic diseases or having immuno-compromised states. Tamiflu would only be given to ILI patients with chronic diseases or in immuno-compromised states.
¡§In addition to treating ILI patients, the DFCs will also notify patients if their test result was confirmed to be positive. Confirmed cases with mild symptoms will attend the DFCs for reassessment. Patients with severe conditions will be referred to hospital for admission,¡¨ the spokesman added.
Regarding the services of the eight DFCs and the confirmed human swine influenza patients admitted to public hospitals, the HA spokesman provided the following updates today (June 27):
The Designated Flu Clinics today (as at 5pm) provide treatment to a total of 252 patients.
The HA spokesman reminded the public that the eight DFCs have ceased the provision of general outpatient services. Patients with other illnesses are advised to seek medical treatment at other general outpatient clinics in the district or private practitioners. Chronic patients who have been pre-scheduled for follow up at the eight DFCs should proceed to their corresponding clinics with drug refill service according to their date of original appointment and bring along the appointment slip and Identity Card.
As at 2.30pm today, there were 33 newly confirmed cases of human swine influenza in the past 24 hours. This brings to 629 the total number of confirmed human swine influenza cases in Hong Kong. Among them, a total of 506 confirmed cases have been discharged from public hospitals upon recovery, the remaining cases in hospitals have been stable (none required intensive care and there were no fatal cases).
Ends/Saturday, June 27, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:45
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