Hospital Authority to review support to psychiatric patients after Plaza Hollywood tragedy

The Hospital Authority (HA) will review the treatments, rehabilitation services and procedures currently provided to psychiatric patients to enhance the related services holistically.

HA expressed its grave concern for the unfortunate incidents on Friday at Diamond Hill involving psychiatric patients and its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and the affected citizens. 

It appeals to the public to cooperate with healthcare professionals to facilitate the rehabilitation and reintegration of patients with mental illness through strengthening support and understanding and reducing stigmatisation.

"Most of the stable mental patients who have recovered from mental illness can reintegrate into our society," the representative of the Coordinating Committee in Psychiatry Bonnie Siu Wei-man said. "Those with violence tendency are a minority, and serious attacks on strangers are very rare."

She hopes the public will not stigmatise people with a mental health condition.

Currently, the HA psychiatric services will consider the severity of patient conditions and clinical needs to provide medical assistance, including inpatient and outpatient services, ambulatory rehabilitation training, and community support. 

Regular outreach and home visits, as well as close collaboration with community partners, case managers will assist patients in setting goals and recovery-oriented plans to facilitate their reintegration.

Furthermore, HA said it was aware that some citizens might feel anxious and uneasy after the incident and advised those in need to call the mental health hotline at 24667350, which operates 24 hours a day, to receive assistance from professional medical staff.

It added that HA will spare no effort to support citizens in need, hoping the public can soon be healing from the pain and getting out of the haze of the tragedy. 

Terry Lum Yat-sang, the professor of the department of social work and social administration at the University of Hong Kong, said there were not enough psychiatrists and clinical psychologists to meet the demand for mental health services in the city.

He suggested the government arrange for some registered social workers to support patients with mild mental health issues to relieve the manpower shortage pressure and shorten the waiting time for patient follow-ups.