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The Government has received about 400 written submissions from both organisations and individuals during a public consultation on the proposed Medical Priority Dispatch System.
The four-month consultation was launched on July 3 and ended yesterday (November 3).
During the consultation period, the consultation document was widely distributed, and people were encouraged through various channels (including government websites and posters displayed over the territory) to express their views. The Security Bureau and the Fire Services Department conducted more than 30 meetings with various stakeholders, including the Panel on Security of Legislative Council, District Councils, elderly organisations and patients groups.
"Based on our initial analysis, a majority of the public support the principle of the MPDS," a government spokesman said today (November 4). "More than 70% of respondents agree that ambulance responses should be prioritised in accordance with the degree of urgency of the calls; more than 60% support the proposed response time targets and performance pledge; and more than 70% consider the provision of post-dispatch advice before the arrival of ambulances useful," he said.
The Government was grateful for the active response from the public and is now collating and analysing all the views collected. It is expected that more submissions sent in by post will be received. After the analysis is completed, the Security Bureau will report the result to the Panel on Security of the Legislative Council early next year.
The spokesman emphasised that the Government would carefully consider all comments and views received during the consultation, including those on the details of the MPDS, before finalising its proposal, and would secure the necessary resources for the relevant department on the basis of need.
The purpose of the Government's proposal to implement the MPDS in Hong Kong is to improve emergency ambulance services. Under the proposed MPDS, response to emergency ambulance calls will be prioritised in accordance with the degree of urgency, to provide quicker response to patients in critical or life-threatening condition.
Ends/Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:16
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