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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) today (June 24) announced a substantial reduction in the quota for the booking of obstetric services in public hospitals by non-local pregnant women in 2012.
"To reserve sufficient obstetric and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) service capacity for local residents, bookings for non-local women will only be accepted when spare capacity is available," the HA spokesperson said.
In anticipation of higher demand from local residents amid the limited capacity in obstetric and NICU services, the quota available for non-local pregnant women will be reduced from 9,800 last year (2010) to around 3,400 in 2012. Kwong Wah Hospital, Tuen Mun Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital will suspend all bookings for non-local pregnant women considering the high demand from local residents in their catchment areas as well as their obstetric and NICU service capacity.
The other five public hospitals (Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Queen Mary Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, United Christian Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital) will monitor their obstetric and NICU service capacity and adjust the quota available for non-local pregnant women according to the spare capacity after meeting demand from local residents.
"To cater for the present and upcoming demand, NICU beds will be increased to 110 in 2012, following an increase from 85 to 100 earlier," the spokesperson said, adding that manpower will be strengthened in obstetric units with midwife training capacity increased from 80 to 100 in 2012.
The HA spokesperson also strongly advised against the behaviour of seeking last-minute admission through the Accident and Emergency Departments of hospitals, saying, "It is of paramount importance to have proper antenatal care and planned delivery to ensure the safety and well-being of mother and baby."
The HA will continue to monitor the situation and the effectiveness of the measures in relieving the pressure of front-line health-care staff while ensuring adequate and priority service for local mothers.
Ends/Friday, June 24, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:27
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