The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) today (February 1) announced that in view of the increased demand during the winter surge in public hospitals, the general out-patient clinic (GOPC) services will be enhanced around the Chinese New Year. The overall quota will increase by about 3 900 during the week of the Chinese New Year and the week after (February 4 to 17), while one more GOPC will provide public holiday clinic service on February 7, so that 14 clinics in total (see table below) will remain open to meet the service needs of the public during the long holidays and alleviate the service pressure of Accident and Emergency (A&E) Departments.
The Chairman of the HA's Coordinating Committee (A&E), Dr Li Kai-ming, said A&E Departments of public hospitals will also remain open as usual to serve the public with urgent medical needs during the Chinese New Year holidays. He said he also expected that attendance in A&E Departments will gradually increase.
"The extended three-day Chinese New Year holidays will start next Tuesday. Our previous experience tells us that the service demand will increase rapidly in the latter part of the holiday and also on the first working day following the extended holiday. The latest A&E waiting time information is available on the HA website and the 'HA Touch' mobile app. As an alternative, non-urgent patients are advised to consider seeking consultation at general out-patient clinics or primary clinics of private doctors," Dr Li said.
Dr Li also took the opportunity to remind people travelling outside Hong Kong during the holidays to avoid contact with birds or poultry and to reveal their travel history to healthcare staff when seeking medical consultation. The general public should adopt a healthy lifestyle such as covering the nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing, maintaining proper hand hygiene and putting on a mask when developing symptoms of respiratory infections in order to avoid further spread of disease.
The HA spokesperson added that the public can access the "Winter Surge Designated Webpage" through the HA Homepage (www.ha.org.hk/goto/wintersurge/en) and the "HA Touch" mobile app to understand the key service statistics, including A&E waiting time information, A&E attendance and the medical in-patient bed occupancy rate. Moreover, they can get information on private and charity group healthcare services during the Chinese New Year from the "One-stop medical services information portal during Chinese New Year Holidays" in the designated webpage. Members of the public are welcome to call the HA Infoline 2882 4866 for information on holiday general out-patient clinic services.
The HA wishes every member of the public a healthy and prosperous Year of the Pig.
Public Holiday Clinic Services
| District | Name of clinic | Telephone number for booking | General enquiries |
| Hong Kong Island | Shau Kei Wan Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic | 3157 0077 | 2560 0211 |
| Violet Peel General Out-patient Clinic | 3157 0000 | 3553 3116 | |
| Aberdeen Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic | 3543 5011 | 2555 0381 | |
| * Central District Health Centre General Out-patient Clinic | 3543 5033 | 2545 1485 | |
| Kowloon | Kwun Tong Community Health Centre | 3157 0687 | 2389 0331 |
| Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital Family Medicine Clinic | 3157 0118 | 2354 2267 | |
| Robert Black General Out-patient Clinic | 3157 0113 | 2383 3311 | |
| Yau Ma Tei Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic | 3157 0880 | 2272 2400 | |
| New Territories | Lady Trench General Out-patient Clinic | 3157 0107 | 2614 4789 |
| Lek Yuen General Out-patient Clinic | 3157 0972 | 2692 8730 | |
| Shek Wu Hui Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic | 3157 0965 | 2670 0211 | |
| Tai Po Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic | 3157 0906 | 2664 2039 | |
| Tuen Mun Clinic | 3543 0886 | 2452 9111 | |
| Yuen Long Jockey Club Health Centre | 3543 5007 | 2443 8511 |
* Central District Health Centre General Out-patient Clinic will provide public holiday clinic services on February 7 (Thursday).
Consultation Hours:
February 5 to 7 (Tuesday to Thursday)
9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm
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