HK public hospital A&E waits up to 11 hours despite fee rise

Some public hospital accident and emergency departments had waits of up to 11 hours despite a fee increase for semi-urgent and non-urgent patients that took effect on January 1.

As of 12.30am on Tuesday, North District Hospital had the longest wait for those categories at 11 hours, according to Hospital Authority data. Kwong Wah Hospital posted eight hours, and United Christian Hospital nine hours.

During a cold weather warning, the authority website showed Pok Oi Hospital at three hours, Queen Elizabeth Hospital five hours, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital three hours, Queen Mary Hospital 7.5 hours and Ruttonjee Hospital 4.5 hours for the same categories.

The Observatory said temperatures could drop to around 12 degrees Celsius in urban areas on Wednesday and Thursday morning, with a few degrees lower in the New Territories, urging the public to stay warm and care for the elderly and chronic patients.