The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     In response to a social media post initiating public assembly in individual hospital and organising activities to distribute and wear black masks, the spokesperson for Hospital Authority (HA) today (November 11) appeals against holding these activities in public hospital access roads and within the hospitals to ensure smooth hospital operations and a suitable environment for patient care.
 
     The HA has already reminded members of the public and staff, in different platforms at various occasions, that public assemblies should not be held in public hospitals. Staff expressing views should be mindful of the perceptions of patients and their families, as well as relations with the patients. The HA trusts that staff will continue to uphold their professionalism and mutual respect to provide an equitable service regardless of the patients' identities and backgrounds. This is a universal value to be supported and safeguarded by the community at large.
  
     "Public hospitals are always crowded with people, and in particular, fragile elderly and mobility-impaired patients. Public assemblies are not suitable in public hospitals as they will affect patient transfers and safety, order and operations in hospitals to a certain extent," the HA spokesperson said.
 
     The HA hopes that all would accord top priority to the well-being of patients, safeguarding a tranquil environment in public hospitals so as to enable healthcare staff to focus on patient care duties. The HA believes that public hospitals have the duty to provide a safe, stable and quiet environment to patients. The HA appeals to the support of different stakeholders in the community and the professions to ensure trusted and good carer-patient relations.

Ends/Monday, November 11, 2019
Issued at HKT 12:55

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