Hospitals facing patients peak over CNY

The refund arrangement for semi-urgent and non-urgent patients seeking private doctors after long waits at emergency rooms is not intended to dissuade those in need from seeking help at public hospitals, Hospital Authority chief manager, Larry Lee Lap-yip said.

The Hospital Authority announced that during the Lunar New Year holiday, patients who experience extended waiting times in emergency rooms can visit a private doctor and apply for a refund within 24 hours of registration. The arrangement will start from today to February 18.

Lee said the arrangement is primarily for the convenience of citizens and does not imply that individuals cannot seek treatment at emergency rooms if they have been waiting for 24 hours.

He also said that the initiative is not aimed at reducing the number of emergency room visits or encouraging the transfer of patients with less severe conditions.

Regarding the refund process, Lee encouraged citizens to consult with emergency room staff members who will explain the situation.

The HA anticipates the number of patients to peak on the third and fourth day of the LNY.

Li Yim-chu, chief of service of Kowloon Central Cluster, emphasized the importance of community support during the LNY period. "The authority plans to increase manpower to provide outreach elderly care services at nursing homes and telemedicine services," she said.

Li also said that experience indicates an approximately 80 percent increase in demand for general outpatient appointments on the first and second day of the LNY.

"To accommodate the surge in demand on Monday and Tuesday, the HA will offer full-day general outpatient services during the holidays," Li said.

Li also pointed out that Hong Kong has entered the flu season as the weather gets colder during the LNY, and viruses may become more active and recurrent.

She urged citizens, particularly high-risk groups, to vaccinate promptly, as antibodies take approximately two weeks to develop.

Tim Pang Hung-cheong, a patients' rights advocate with the Society for Community Organization, suggested simplifying the refund process.

"If citizens have already registered and paid at the A&E department but decide to leave, they should be able to proceed directly to the private clinics they have contacted, even transferring the HK$180 fee to those clinics," he said.

Pang added that this method would be more convenient, eliminating the need to apply for a refund and wait for a month.

Chan Pui-kwong, vice president of the Hong Kong Doctor Union, said citizens should call private clinics in advance to inquire about their holiday schedule.

The HA spokesman said the public can use the Geoinfo map to access information about private hospitals, medical institutions, and general practitioners that will be open during public holidays.