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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
Regarding the services of the 18 Designated Clinics and the nine Special Assessment Centres, the Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson provides the following updates today (September 28):
The 18 Designated Clinics today (as at 5pm) provided initial assessment to 3,796 patients. Patients who require further assessment and treatment have been referred to the Special Assessment Centres (SAC). A total of 15,017 attendances and 2,185 assessments have been reported at the Designated Clinics and SACs respectively since they commenced operation. In the coming three days, over 1,000 appointments have already been made each day at the 18 Designated Clinics.
Members of the public are reminded that the Designated Clinics and SACs will be in operation for at least six months and as long as there is demand for the service. Parents therefore will not need to compete for appointment if their children are asymptomatic. Children who require check-up should first be brought to the Designated Clinics for preliminary assessment while they will be referred to the SACs for follow-up assessment and treatment if clinically indicated. Children who could not be assessed at the Designated Clinics on the same day of attendance will be given an earliest possible appointment in the following days.
The HA would like to reiterate that the free screening service is a contingency arrangement with a prime focus on local children who have an "eligible person" status. Other patients will be referred to private healthcare providers to reserve adequate capacity for the locals.
Ends/Sunday, September 28, 2008
Issued at HKT 19:54
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