Hospital Authority activates service demand surge measures
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The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson today (December 22) announced that the HA has activated service demand surge special measures to cope with the increasing service demand due to cold weather and the Christmas long holiday. The HA anticipates that the service demand in public hospitals will continue to rise in the coming weeks. The HA will closely monitor various statistics and the situation.
The HA spokesperson said, "Public hospitals have implemented a series of measures, including increasing manpower, opening temporary beds and mobilising hospital beds flexibly to cope with the increasing service demand for accident and emergency (A&E) departments and inpatient services to enhance laboratory services for influenza and COVID-19 tests. Ward rounds of senior clinicians will also be increased in the evenings, weekends and holidays. The HA will also facilitate patient admissions, transfers and discharges so as to provide timely and appropriate treatment for patients and vacate hospital beds to admit patients as far as practicable."
The weather has been cold in recent days and increased activity in influenza and some respiratory pathogens such as COVID-19 is observed. The general out-patient clinic (GOPC) service has been enhanced in order to cope with increasing service needs from members of the public and to alleviate the service pressure on A&E departments during long holiday. A total of 18 GOPCs (see table below) will provide public holiday GOPC services during the Christmas holidays. Patients may book an appointment either through the telephone appointment system or the "Book GOPC" function of the "HA Go" mobile app.
The spokesperson urges non-urgent patients to avoid attending A&E departments. They are advised to attend GOPCs, private doctors or the 24-hour clinics of private hospitals as far as practicable. To choose a suitable family doctor and related clinic service, members of the public can browse the Primary Care Directory of the Health Bureau (www.pcdirectory.gov.hk).
Meanwhile, the HA also appeals to members of the public to get vaccinated early for seasonal influenza and COVID-19, especially high-risk groups, to reduce the chance of getting infected for themselves and their family members, as well as to reduce critical cases and deaths. Members of the public may find details on the Centre for Health Protection COVID-19 Vaccination Programme website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/106934.html) and the Vaccination Schemes website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/17980.html).
The HA will closely monitor the situation and flexibly deploy resources and manpower when necessary, and will keep increasing its service volume in order to provide appropriate services for patients.
GOPC services arrangements for the Christmas holidays (December 25 and 26):
| Region | List of GOPCs | Address | Telephone number for booking | General enquiries |
| Hong Kong Island | Aberdeen Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic | 10 Aberdeen Reservoir Road, Aberdeen | 3543 5011 | 2555 0381 |
| Shau Kei Wan Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic | 1/F, 8 Chai Wan Road, Shau Kei Wan | 3157 0077 | 2560 0211 | |
| Violet Peel General Out-patient Clinic | LG, Tang Shiu Kin Hospital Community Ambulatory Care Centre, 282 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai | 3157 0000 | 3553 3116 | |
| # Kennedy Town Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic | 45 Victoria Road, Kennedy Town | 3543 5088 | 2817 3215 | |
| Kowloon | Kwun Tong Community Health Centre | UG/F, 60 Hip Wo Street, Kwun Tong | 3157 0687 | 2389 0331 |
| Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital Family Medicine Clinic | G/F, Out-patient Block, Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital, 118 Shatin Pass Road, Wong Tai Sin | 3157 0118 | 2354 2267 | |
| Robert Black General Out-patient Clinic | 600 Prince Edward Road East, San Po Kong | 3157 0113 | 2383 3311 | |
| Yau Ma Tei Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic | 1/F, 145 Battery Street, Yau Ma Tei | 3157 0880 | 2272 2400 | |
| * Cheung Sha Wan Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic | 2 Kwong Lee Road, Cheung Sha Wan | 3157 0122 | 2387 8211 | |
| New Territories | Lady Trench General Out-patient Clinic | 213 Sha Tsui Road, Tsuen Wan | 3157 0107 | 2614 4789 |
| Lek Yuen General Out-patient Clinic | G/F, 9 Lek Yuen Street, Sha Tin | 3157 0972 | 2692 8730 | |
| Shek Wu Hui Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic | G/F, 108-130 Jockey Club Road, Shek Wu Hui, Sheung Shui | 3157 0965 | 2670 0211 | |
| Tai Po Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic | G/F, 37 Ting Kok Road, Tai Po | 3157 0906 | 2664 2039 | |
| Tseung Kwan O (Po Ning Road) General Out-patient Clinic | G/F, 28 Po Ning Road, Tseung Kwan O | 3157 0660 | 2191 1083 | |
| Tuen Mun Clinic | 11 Tsing Yin Street, San Hui, Tuen Mun | 3543 0886 | 2452 9111 | |
| Yuen Long Jockey Club Health Centre | 269 Castle Peak Road, Yuen Long | 3543 5007 | 2443 8511 | |
| # Ha Kwai Chung General Out-patient Clinic | 77 Lai Cho Road, Kwai Chung | 3157 0100 | 3651 5411 | |
| # North Lantau Community Health Centre | 3/F, North Lantau Hospital, 8 Chung Yan Road, Tung Chung, Lantau Island |
3157 0106 | 3467 7374 |
# Will provide clinic services on December 26.
Service hours: 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm
Ends/Friday, December 22, 2023
Issued at HKT 12:00
Issued at HKT 12:00
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