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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
Starting November 1, the Hospital Authority's Hong Kong Poison Information Centre (HKPIC) and the Fire Services Department (FSD) will implement the "Pre-Hospital Poisoning Consultation and Activated Charcoal Treatment Service" to ensure correct and appropriate treatment is promptly given to poisoned patients.
At the press conference today (October 27), Director of HKPIC, Dr Lau Fei-lung, said that the HKPIC handled 22 pre-hospital consultations during the six-month pilot period. Most patients had ingested drugs, either accidentally or with suicidal intent.
"No complications were observed and the condition of poisoned patients was significantly enhanced. As the hour immediately after poisoning is the most crucial moment in rescuing a patient, the extension of the service territory-wide would help more than 200 patients a year to get the antidote within an hour," Dr Lau said.
The service was piloted in the Hong Kong East and Kowloon East sub-division of FSD Ambulance Command from March to September 2010. Chief Ambulance Officer of FSD, Mr Leung Shiu-hong, said that the result of the trial scheme was remarkable. Communication between both parties was very smooth and the extension of the service territory-wide would enhance the quality of the pre-hospital ambulance service.
Dr Lau said that Hong Kong is the first city in the world having toxicology-trained doctors on duty providing 24 hours pre-hospital poisoning assessment and telephone-support services. The Toxicology Training Centre, located at the United Christian Hospital, organises training regularly to enhance the professional standard of healthcare professionals when dealing with poisoned patients.
FSD provided relevant training to 1,091 paramedics in the Continuing Medical Education course held from November 2009 to September 2010. Designed by the Medical Directors of FSD, the course provides an overview of poisoning and covers the use of activated charcoal, treatment protocol, indications, contra-indications and case studies.
"According to the new arrangement, all FSD ambulances will be equipped with activated charcoal. Paramedics on site will firstly conduct a comprehensive assessment and provide suitable basic treatment to poisoned patients. After collecting information on substances taken, they will contact HKPIC doctors immediately for a preliminary assessment according to a standard protocol set by the FSD and HKPIC. Instruction will be given to the paramedics to give activated charcoal to poisoned patients, if appropriate, as a preliminary treatment before sending them to hospitals," Mr Leung said.
Ends/Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Issued at HKT 17:31
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