Secretary for Food & Health Dr York Chow has ordered the Hospital Authority to issue a report explaining why treatment for a boy with an eye injury was delayed at Caritas Medical Centre.

Dr Chow said today public hospitals must provide immediate treatment to patients in emergency cases.

The seven-year-old was sent to the accident emergency department of Prince Margaret Hospital at noon September 17 for an injury to his left eye. His case was referred to Caritas' ophthalmology specialist out-patient clinic.

He arrived at the clinic with a relative and failed to provide a valid identity document for registration. Staff suggested to the relative she ask his school to fax a copy of the identity document to the hospital, or pay as a non-eligible person and get a refund after validation of boy's status. She said she would ask another family member to get the document.

A relative arrived with the patient's identity card at 3.14pm. The boy was then seen by a doctor and given a provisional diagnosis of corneal abrasion without imminent risk of visual loss. The consultation was completed at 3.49pm and the boy was discharged with a follow-up appointment the next day.

Caritas Medical Centre said will review the procedure and explore ways of better facilitating patients for consultation.