The Hospital Authority plans to launch a new general out-patient service in the Pok Oi Hospital Chinese Medicine Clinic in Tin Shui Wai in the third quarter.

Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr York Chow told legislators today 100 new general out-patient places will be offered each week in the first phase.

He said this new service will not affect the present throughput of the out-patient Chinese medicine service in the Pok Oi Hospital. The existing level of out-patient service in the Tin Shui Wai Health Centre will also be maintained.

"The Administration and the authority have all along been studying options to enhance the provision of medical services in Tin Shui Wai, including assessment of the need to build new medical facilities in Area 109, Tin Shui Wai North, in the long run. 

"We will continue to closely gauge the needs of the residents in the district for medical services so as to determine the type of clinic to be built and the timing as well," he said.

As a short-term measure, Dr Chow said Tin Shui Wai Clinic has offered two additional services with about 100 places each week. On top of its general out-patient places, there are eight additional nursing and consultation sessions each week for hypertension patients and wound dressing, and there are two consultation sessions attended by medicine and paediatric specialists.

Healthcare service network planned

On medical service planning at the district level, Dr Chow said special emphasis would be placed on developing community-based nursing service, fostering daycare and outreach services and putting in place a healthcare service network.

"To work towards this goal, the authority is now considering the proposal of building a health centre in Area 109, Tin Shui Wai North," he said.