Hospital Authority’s announcement on service arrangements of Tin Shui Wai Hospital

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesman makes the following announcement today (February 25) on the service arrangements of Tin Shui Wai Hospital (TSWH):

     TSWH will utilise the entire 300 beds to receive COVID-19 patients from midnight, February 26 onwards. The Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) will maintain service, while ambulances will send patients with emergent medical need to TSWH. Other patients will be diverted to Tuen Mun Hospital for treatment. For patients attended the A&E on their own, service is not affected.

     The spokesman for the HA appeals to patients with stable condition to consider seeking consultation at general out-patient clinics or private doctors to avoid increasing the burden of the A&E. The spokesman also appeals to patients confirmed with COVID-19 who are in stable condition to make every effort to stay home and wait for the arrangements by the Centre for Health Protection. Confirmed patients with medical needs but of mild symptoms can make appointments at the HA designated clinics by telephone. The designated clinic in New Territories West is located on the first floor of Tin Shui Wai (Tin Yip Road) Community Health Centre and can be contacted at 3124 2200 for appointment. Confirmed COVID-19 patients can also seek assistance at the HA hotline 1836115.

     The HA reminds members of the public that all the A&E in public hospitals will not distribute deep throat saliva specimen collection packs, and appeals the public not to attend the A&E for COVID-19 test confirmation. Moreover, the A&E in public hospitals are currently very crowded. If patients are in stable condition, with no symptom or mild symptoms only, the A&E is unable to arrange hospitalisation. Attending the A&E will not speed up hospitalisation procedure for confirmed patients.

     The HA appeals to members of the public to make every effort to follow the current arrangements in the A&E, avoid increasing burden of the healthcare system and to prioritise hospital beds to patients with more medical needs.