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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 (October 4):
The 18 Designated Clinics today (as at 5pm) provided initial assessment to 2,846 patients. Patients who require further assessment and treatment have been referred to the Special Assessment Centres (SACs). On the other hand, the nine Assessment Centres also attended to 926 patients today. A total of 28,320 attendances and 5,838 assessments have been reported at the Designated Clinics and SACs respectively.
As at today, the Centre for Health Protection has received five reports of Melamine tainted milk products-related renal stone in children, four were reported by HA. Out of the four cases, only one was diagnosed by the HA free medical screening and assessment services at Designated Clinics and SACs commencing since September 23. All four children are well and have been discharged home.
In preparation for a possible higher service demand in view of the current extended holidays in the Mainland, HA decided to extend the service hours of the 18 Designated Clinics. All Designated Clinics will provide full day service from 9am to 5pm tomorrow (October 5). The arrangement of extended service hours will be closely monitored and reviewed in due course.
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. In the coming three days, a total of around 3,000 appointments have already been made at the 18 Designated Clinics.
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/Saturday, October 4, 2008
Issued at HKT 19:15
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