The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
      
     The Hospital Authority (HA) Chief Executive Dr Leung Pak-yin, accompanying the Secretary of Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, paid a visit today (February 19) to the Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments and wards of Ruttonjee and Tang Shiu Kin Hospitals, Princess Margaret Hospital and North District Hospital to understand from frontline staff the latest service situation and manpower arrangements during the extended Chinese New Year holidays.
      
     Dr Leung expressed his heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the healthcare staff for their professional services during the holidays. He said, "It is expected that the public demand for A&E services will continue to rise, especially tomorrow which is the first working day following the extended holidays." He appealed to the public to consider using the services of General Outpatient Clinics or private doctors. HA has continued to enhance the services of General Outpatient Clinics by adding another 1 000 service quotas in the coming four weeks to cope with the demand.
      
     Dr Leung also pointed out that HA has deployed the additional funding from the Government to increase the flexibility, the tie with respective staff ranks and the rate of the Special Honorarium Scheme to encourage participation of staff from all disciplines and as a recognition of their efforts.

Ends/Monday, February 19, 2018
Issued at HKT 17:12

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