Hospital Authority adjusts designated clinics and general out-patient clinic service arrangements
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In view of the developments of the COVID-19 epidemic situation, the Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson today (September 8) announced that it will activate one more designated clinic for confirmed cases of COVID-19 (designated clinic) tomorrow (September 9) to cope with the increasing service demand. The newly activated designated clinic is the Central Kowloon Health Centre in Kowloon City District, in which the normal general out-patient services will be suspended starting from tomorrow. The number of HA designated clinics will increase to eight by then (Annex I).
Patients and their family members or carers can make an appointment with a designated clinic for an in-person consultation by calling the selected designated clinic during the booking and service hours or using the "Book Tele/DC" function in the HA's one-stop mobile app "HA Go" to book an appointment for a designated clinic or tele-consultation service.
The spokesperson for the HA said, "In order to focus manpower and resources to further enhance designated clinic and tele-consultation services for supporting confirmed patients in the community, some general out-patient clinics (GOPCs) will also curtail services from tomorrow onwards, including the reduction of clinic sessions of some GOPCs. We hope that the community will understand those new arrangements." Chronic patients with follow-up appointments at the clinics concerned are advised to refill their drugs at the corresponding medication refill clinics on the appointment day by presenting their appointment slips and identity cards. Details of the service adjustment arrangements of the clinic concerned, together with the service adjustment arrangements of other GOPCs announced earlier, are set out in Annex II.
The HA will continue to closely monitor the epidemic situation and service needs, especially the situation after the start of the new academic year and long holiday, and to adjust its services (including the services of designated clinics and GOPCs) in response to the epidemic situation and to provide appropriate treatment to needy patients.
Moreover, due to the activation of some GOPCs as designated clinics for COVID-19 confirmed cases and service adjustments of some GOPCs, eight GOPCs will provide public holiday GOPC services during the second day following the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival holiday (September 12, Monday) (Annex III). Patients seeking consultation may make an advance booking for an appointment either through the telephone appointment system or the "Book GOPC" function on the "HA Go" mobile application.
The eight designated clinics will also continue to operate during the public holiday. The spokesperson for the HA reminded the public that they should continue to stay vigilant when celebrating the festive season. They should maintain personal and environmental hygiene to prevent infection and spreading of the virus in the community.
Members of the public can obtain specimen collection packs for COVID-19 tests during the holiday, or submit specimens at four GOPCs (Annex III) within the specified time. The public can also obtain specimen collection packs at selected post offices or MTR stations. For details, please visit the website: https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html.
Ends/Thursday, September 8, 2022
Issued at HKT 15:06
Issued at HKT 15:06
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