************************************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Chairman of the Hospital Authority (HA), Professor John Leong, accompanied by the Deputising Chief Executive, Dr Cheung Wai-lun, this (December 28) afternoon paid a visit to the Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments of Tuen Mun Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital to learn from frontline staff about the latest service situation and manpower arrangements following the extended Christmas holidays.
Professor Leong expressed his heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the healthcare staff for their unceasing service during the extended Christmas holidays. "Our frontline colleagues dedicated round-the-clock services to safeguarding the health of people in Hong Kong, demonstrating the important role of public healthcare system in the community.
"With the approach of the winter surge, a series of measures have already been put in place by the HA to alleviate the workload of our frontline colleagues. I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to the public for their understanding and patience amid the over-crowded situation in public hospitals. Patients with minor ailments should consider attending the general out-patient clinics or private doctors for consultation where appropriate, instead of attending the A&E departments, which should focus on patients with urgent medical needs," Professor Leong added.
During the current cold spell, Professor Leong reminded the public to take care of elderly people living alone and to adopt healthy habits, such as covering the nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing, maintaining proper hand hygiene, and putting on a mask when developing symptoms of respiratory infection in order to avoid the further spread of the disease. Members of the public are also advised to receive a seasonal influenza vaccination to protect their own health and other people's.
Ends/Monday, December 28, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:31
NNNN
