The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) Chairman, Professor John Leong, accompanied by the Deputising Chief Executive of the HA, Dr Cheung Wai-lun, this afternoon (December 28) paid a visit to the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Departments of Queen Elizabeth Hospital and United Christian Hospital to understand from front-line staff 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 professional service during the holidays, while pointing out that a series of measures have already been put in place by the HA to alleviate the workload of front-line colleagues and to enhance public communication during the approach of the winter surge.
 
     "Among our various measures, we have newly launched this year an online platform to display the waiting time information of A&E Departments. Patients with minor ailments can make use of the new platforms to understand the service situation before coming to the A&E Departments. 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 and 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.
 
     In light of the current cold spell, Professor Leong reminded the public to take care of elderly people living alone and to adopt a healthy lifestyle 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 further spread of disease. Members of the public are advised to receive seasonal influenza vaccination as well to protect the health of themselves and others.

Ends/Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Issued at HKT 18:28

NNNN