Grand opening of Phase 1 Building in Kwong Wah Hospital Redevelopment held (with photos)
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The Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH) Phase 1 Redevelopment Project has been completed. The grand opening of KWH Phase 1 Building today (November 28) marked a significant milestone for the hospital. The hospital's facilities have been further enhanced to improve patient services.
The grand opening ceremony was officiated by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing. Other guests attending the ceremony included the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau; the Chairman of the Hospital Authority (HA), Mr Henry Fan; the Chairman of Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs) (2023-24) and Hospital Governing Committee of KWH, Mr Herman Wai; the Chairman of TWGHs (1964-1965), Mr Ho Sai-chu; the Chief Executive of the HA, Dr Tony Ko; the Cluster Chief Executive of Kowloon Central Cluster (KCC), Dr Eric Cheung; and Hospital Chief Executive of KWH, Dr Tang Kam-shing.
The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, gave a video keynote speech at the grand opening ceremony, bearing witness to the new chapter of KWH. Mr Lee encouraged healthcare professionals to collaborate with the community closely for the wellbeing of citizens to build a healthy Hong Kong.
Mr Cheuk, in his speech during the ceremony, stated, "The Government has been allocating substantial resources to healthcare. In addition to the two Hospital Development Plans, the Government will continue to plan and implement the Primary Healthcare Blueprint, shifting the healthcare system's focus from treatment-oriented to prevention-oriented, with a central role for family doctors. It will reduce the incidence of severe illnesses and alleviate the pressure of hospitals in providing secondary and tertiary medical services."
Mr Fan expressed gratitude in his speech for the Government's commitment to public healthcare services. Mr Fan said, "The KWH Redevelopment Project is an important project in the HA's Hospital Development Plan. Upon the service commencement of the building, the overall accident and emergency services of KCC were strengthened. The Phase 2 Redevelopment Project of the hospital has already commenced, and upon completion, it will further enhance the clinical services, consolidating KWH's role as a large acute hospital providing comprehensive inpatient and day care services."
Mr Wai said that KWH was established in 1911 and has served the community for 112 years. It has consistently upheld the TWGHs' tradition of providing free medical services, and serves the public with the mission "to heal the sick and to relieve the distressed". The floor-to-ceiling glass windows of the atrium allow passersby on Waterloo Road to catch a glimpse of the architectural heritage of the Tung Wah Museum, which was built in 1911 and was originally the main building of KWH, symbolising the unwavering commitment to serving the community.
The expansion of KWH is a significant milestone in the healthcare development of KCC. The hospital has set a new vision for future development - Smart, Sustainability, and Healing. To align with the HA's strategic goal of developing a smart hospital, KWH has introduced various technological enhancements as part of the redevelopment, including the implementation of a 5G network, making it the first hospital under the HA's purview to provide 5G network services covering the whole hospital. In addition to offering 5G Wi-Fi services to the public, 5G technology can also be applied to telehealth. KWH's 5G operating theatres have been put into service in phases, supporting real-time transmission of surgical images and allowing clinical teams outside the operating theatre to offer advice, meeting the demands of multidisciplinary care in surgery.
The KWH Phase 1 Building has been in service since April of this year. With a total floor area of approximately 145 000 square metres, it provides over 1 200 beds and features 14 operating theatres. The hospital's one-stop ambulatory care centres reduce the need for hospitalisation and enhance patient treatment and health management. The Phase 2 Redevelopment Project of KWH is already underway, involving the demolition and reconstruction of the main block, north wing, and east wing of the old building and the refurbishment of the TWGHs Tsui Tsin Tong Outpatient Building.
Ends/Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Issued at HKT 19:15
Issued at HKT 19:15
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