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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
Public hospitals are getting prepared for the surge in hospital admission and also attendance at Accident & Emergency (A&E) departments after the Chinese New Year holidays next week and put in place a series of contingent measures to ensure emergency patient services are not compromised, the Hospital Authority (HA) spokesman said today (February 5).
"We appeal to the public for accommodation and cooperation under the surge in demand as non-emergency procedures and surgeries have to be re-scheduled and there would be longer queuing time for non-emergency patients at A&E departments. However, emergency service such as cancer surgery, urgent cardiac surgery and limb or organ threatening surgery would definitely not be affected," the spokesman added.
With the recent persistent cold weather and coming of the peak of seasonal influenza, there has been a consistently high occupancy rate recorded at the medical wards and intensive care unit in public hospitals, and the attendance at A&E departments has also started to climb up before the Chinese New Year holidays.
According to the latest statistics, the average occupancy rate for medical beds and paediatric beds in public hospitals have reached over 80% and nearly 70% respectively in the past two days. The hospitals with higher occupancy are North District Hospital, Tseung Kwan O Hospital, Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital.
"As we anticipate the admissions to medical and paediatric wards would surge after the holidays, public hospitals have already put in place the required contingent measures to cope with the demand. These measures include re-scheduling of elective admissions in obstetric & gynaecology, orthopaedic & traumatology and surgery departments during Chinese New Year, implementing overflow of patients to less busy wards and opening extra beds, enhancing diagnostic and pathology support, enhancement of senior coverage and ward rounds during Chinese New Year, full utilisation of observation function in A&E departments to prevent avoidable admission, and providing special honorarium and leave encashment for health care workers and deployment of clerical and supporting staff to pressure areas."
The HA spokesman also reminded the public on appropriate use of A&E services. "Members of the public are advised to first seek consultation at general out-patient clinic or family doctor for minor ailment to avoid long queuing time at busy A&E departments, in particular in the first few days after the long holidays. Our priority is to ensure early and prompt treatment for the critical and urgent patients under the triage mechanism."
"As a precautionary measure, all health care workers in public hospitals have already been reminded to be vigilant under the current peak season of influenza and to strictly observe infection control guidelines. All hospital staff as well as visitors are advised to put on surgical masks when entering into patient care areas in public hospitals and clinics, and to perform hand hygiene and take care of personal hygiene to build up good body immunity," the spokesman added.
Ends/Saturday, February 5, 2011
Issued at HKT 12:38
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