*********************************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, today (January 20) officiated at the Foundation Laying Ceremony of North Lantau Hospital Phase I. The new hospital is being constructed to cope with the development of North Lantau New Town and its growing population, and is also in the proximity of Hong Kong International Airport and some major tourist facilities situated on Lantau Island. A funding of HK$2.48 billion was approved by the Legislative Council in December 2009 to support the establishment of North Lantau Hospital Phase I. The construction works commenced in January 2010 and are expected to be completed by December 2012.
Accompanying the Chief Executive at the ceremony were the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow; Hospital Authority Chairman, Mr Anthony Wu; Hospital Authority Chief Executive, Dr Leung Pak-yin; Director of Architectural Services, Mrs Marigold Lau; Chairman of Islands District Council, Mr Daniel Lam and Chief Executive of Kowloon West Cluster, Dr Nancy Tung.
North Lantau Hospital Phase I occupies about 1.9 hectares in Tung Chung Area 25. It will comprise a seven-storey C-shaped block atop a single storey podium, with provision of 160 in-patient beds and 20 day beds for ambulatory care services including an accident and emergency (A&E) department, specialist out-patient clinics, primary care clinics, a day rehabilitation centre and an ambulatory surgery centre. The in-patient and out-patient services will also be supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment facilities, such as an emergency laboratory, radiology suite, computed tomography scanner, ultrasound scanner and blood bank.
In addition, there will be a variety of community care services comprising community geriatric assessment service, a psychiatric outreaching team, community nursing services, patient resources centre, community health education, medical social services, and so on, ensuring proper care for patents and also enhancing the health of the community.
The North Lantau Hospital Project is being taken forward in two phases. The facilities and services of Phase I will be sufficient to meet the demand for public hospital services for the projected population on Lantau Island by 2015. To cope with the long-term development and population growth on Lantau Island, the Government will explore the feasibility of public-private-partnership for Phase II of the North Lantau Hospital project.
Ends/Thursday, January 20, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:28
NNNN
