The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
As Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) was converted to COVID-19 designated hospital yesterday, the Hospital Authority (HA) announced today (March 10) that more than one-fourth of the patients to be discharged or transferred to other hospitals have been managed, and the remaining patients will be transferred out or discharged in the coming few days. Meanwhile, QEH has also identified around 60 patients suitable for transferring to two private hospitals. Private hospitals have preliminarily agreed to receive around 20 patients. QEH will continue to liaise with private hospitals and hope that they could try to receive the non-COVID-19 cases in the hospital. HA thanks the frontline staff, various clusters and hospitals for their full support in assisting the smooth arrangement of hospital transfer.
HA reminded the public that the Accident and Emergency Department (AED) of QEH will only admit life threatening and pregnant lady ambulance cases currently. Other patients are requested not to attend, or will impose heavy burden to frontline staff and affect the patient transfer arrangement. For those patients with medical needs, they may attend AED in other hospitals. COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms may book appointment and seek consultation at 17 designated clinics.
HA announced that there will be another hospital converted to designated hospital. Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Fung Yiu King Hospital (FYKH) in Hong Kong West Cluster (HKWC) will utilize the entire 260 beds to admit COVID-19 patients from midnight tomorrow (March 11) onwards. The contingency measure can help concentrate manpower and resources to manage patients upon the severe epidemic situation.
The patients staying in FYKH have been transferred to the The Duchess of Kent Children's Hospital at Sandy Bay and MacLehose Medical Rehabilitation Centre nearby, so as to vacate the beds for admitting COVID-19 patients. The Geriatric Day Hospital service in FYKH has been suspended. Affected patients have been notified by the staff members for the arrangement.
The Hospital Chief Executive of FYKH, Dr Chan Kam-hoi said, "the hospital has enhanced various clinical and non-clinical support services, including the extension of operation hours of the admission office, beefing up of specimen transportation schedules and various essential supplies, etc. The hospital will also collaborate closely with the various teams in HKWC on enhancing the cluster-based support."
FYKH has planned designated arrival and departure routes for COVID-19 patients in accordance with infection control guideline. The hospital has also strengthened ventilation and provided proper personal protective equipment and infection control training to the staff. The hospital has sufficient stockpile of personal protective equipment, and would strive to safeguard the wellbeing of patients, staff members and residents in the community.
HA expressed apology to the patients affected, appealed to patients and members of the public for understanding, and thanked for their co-operation. HA will closely monitor the demand of healthcare services in the community and the operation of FYKH to provide appropriate medical support to the residents.
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