Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau today visited United Christian Hospital, Caritas Medical Centre and Prince of Wales Hospital to gain a better grasp of the contingency measures in public hospitals in response to COVID-19 and the winter service surge.

Prof Lo inspected the accident and emergency (A&E) departments and wards of the hospitals, and learnt from healthcare staff the contingency measures taken in public hospitals to cope with the service surge.

Noting that public hospitals are facing the dual challenges from COVID-19 and influenza as winter approaches, he said the Hospital Authority anticipates the demand for A&E departments and inpatient services will continue to rise.

To ensure the timely handling of serious illness emergency cases and minimise the impact on the non-emergency service, the authority has formulated contingency plans in tandem with each hospital cluster and reserved sufficient resources to open temporary beds and make manpower arrangements when necessary to enhance services for patients during the surge, Prof Lo added.

“I entrusted the Hospital Authority to strengthen its role of gate-keeping and co-operate with residential care homes to reduce cases of unnecessary hospital admissions, as well as to keep up with its enhancement of collaboration with private hospitals by transferring suitable patients to the private hospitals to continue their treatment thereat.”

The health chief thanked frontline healthcare staff for their efforts in ensuring the sustainable operation of the healthcare system at this critical juncture and called on the public to receive seasonal influenza and COVID-19 jabs as early as possible.

Non-urgent patients should avoid using A&E departments so that public hospitals can devote their resources to treating patients in need in a more effective manner, he said.