Hospital Authority and Fire Services Department strengthen emergency medical and ambulance service arrangements in Tsim Sha Tsui

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
 
     The Hospital Authority (HA) and the Fire Services Department (FSD) today (January 30) announced the refinement of emergency ambulance call services in Tsim Sha Tsui. Starting from 8.30am this Thursday (February 1), some ambulance cases previously conveyed to the Accident and Emergency Department (AED) of Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) will be diverted to the AED of Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH). It is expected that the new arrangements can alleviate the pressure of the QEH AED so as to manage the growing AED service demand in the district. In the long run, it will enhance the quality of emergency services and strengthen support for emergency patients in Tsim Sha Tsui.
 
     The FSD will transfer some of the emergency ambulance calls that were previously within the AED service catchment area of QEH to the AED service catchment area of KWH. These areas include south of Jordan Road and west of Nathan Road, the commercial and residential areas in the vicinity of Jordan and Tsim Sha Tsui (MTR Kowloon Station, West Kowloon Station of the High Speed Rail, MTR Austin Station, Bowring Street, West Kowloon Cultural District, Harbour City and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, etc). Under the new arrangements, patients who request emergency ambulance services within the above districts will be conveyed to KWH's AED for treatment, whereas patients in highly critical condition will be sent to the nearest hospital in accordance with the existing mechanism.
 
     The HA spokesperson said, "Under the new arrangements, it is anticipated that approximately 20 ambulance patients will be conveyed to KWH AED each day. The differences in traveling distance and time are not significant when compared with the previous arrangements. Both QEH and KWH are well prepared for the refinement of the AED service catchment area so as to ascertain that timely emergency medical services are provided to all patients with urgent medical need."
 
     The KWH Phase One Redevelopment Project was completed last year. A larger AED located in the new building has enhanced its capability to manage emergency patients. Upon the refinement of the AED service catchment area, the Kowloon Central Cluster (KCC) can utilise its resources more effectively and the AEDs of the two hospitals can also achieve greater synergy, which will help improve the quality of emergency medical services in the KCC. 
 
     The spokesperson said that the HA and FSD have conducted drills to ensure the staff of ambulance and the two AEDs are familiar with the new operational arrangements. The HA will closely communicate with the FSD to monitor the workflow of ambulances conveying patients to hospitals under the new arrangements. The HA has informed the Yau Tsim Mong District Council and through its community network to inform local residents of the arrangements concerned.