The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Hong Kong Children's Hospital (HKCH) will commence its inpatient service in phases starting from this Wednesday (March 27), beginning with paediatric haematology and oncology ward, paediatric intensive care unit and operating theatre services.
 
     The first inpatients will come from the Children's Cancer Centre of Prince of Wales Hospital, while services of the other four centres in Queen Mary Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital and Tuen Mun Hospital will gradually be provided in HKCH within this year.
 
     The Hospital Chief Executive of HKCH, Dr Lee Tsz-leung, said, "Inpatient services for nephrology, paediatric surgery, neonatal intensive care, cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery will be commissioned gradually in 2019-20. Phased commissioning allows us adequate time to run through the service models and clinical workflow to ensure patient safety and service quality."
 
     HKCH's specialist outpatient, pathology, radiology and pharmacy services have commenced since December 18, 2018. HKCH is a tertiary referral centre providing multidisciplinary management for complex, serious and uncommon paediatric diseases, including diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation for clinically indicated patients below 18 across the territory. There is no accident and emergency department or general outpatient clinic in the hospital. All patients must be referred by public hospitals or private doctors.
 
     Hospital service information and latest news are available at www.ha.org.hk/hkch.

Ends/Monday, March 25, 2019
Issued at HKT 16:00

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