Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ18: Expansion plan of the United Christian Hospital

Following is a question by the Hon Kwok Ka-ki and a written reply by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (June 4):

Question:

Regarding the expansion project of the United Christian Hospital, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) whether it knows if the Hospital Authority has plans to submit the above expansion project to the Government in this financial year; if so, of the details;

(b) when it will seek funding approval of the Finance Committee of this Council;

(c) when the expansion project is expected to commence and be completed; and

(d) of the concrete measures to alleviate the shortfall in services and space of the hospital before completion of the expansion project?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a), (b) and (c)

The Kowloon East Hospital Cluster (KE Cluster) of the Hospital Authority (HA), like other hospital clusters, regularly reviews its services having regard to the demographic changes, increase in service demand and service utilisation within the area, while mapping out plans for the provision of facilities and services based on future needs as necessary. HA is now drawing up the preliminary expansion plan of the United Christian Hospital (UCH), and will, in accordance with its established procedures, examine the project before submitting it to the Government for consideration. At the present stage, the details as well as the expected commencement and completion dates of the project are not yet available.

As for the Tseung Kwan O Hospital (TKOH) within the KE Cluster, the expansion project will be submitted to the Finance Committee for funding approval this month. Besides, the KE Cluster has already made plans for the redevelopment project of the Haven of Hope Hospital. The redevelopment project mainly involves reprovisioning the existing infirmary wards and setting up the Day Medical and Rehabilitation Centre. HA and the Government will handle the relevant work according to the established mechanism.

(d) HA implements a number of initiatives in 2008-09 to enhance the services of KE Cluster. These include:

(i) setting up an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist centre at UCH. It is estimated that the waiting time for ENT specialist outpatient cases triaged as routine cases can be shortened by four months;

(ii) setting up a comprehensive breast cancer centre to provide one-stop and comprehensive multidisciplinary services to breast cancer patients. It is estimated that an additional 1 800 breast cancer patients will be benefited each year; and

(iii) expanding the service of TKOH Ambulatory Surgery Centre to provide 900 day surgeries per annum;

In addition, UCH will enhance the services for stroke patients and the physiotherapy assessments on neck and back. It will also establish oncology outpatient service, provide occupational therapy services for psychiatric patients and provide a 24-hour pharmacy in the Accident and Emergency Department. Meanwhile, KE Cluster will improve the services for expectant mothers and newborns, as well as the psychiatric and nephrology services.

To enhance the support for the elderly dischargees and their carers, UCH, in collaboration with Labour and Welfare Bureau, has launched a pilot programme of the "Integrated Discharge Support Programme for Elderly Patients" in Kwun Tong District in March 2008 to provide one-stop care services for the elderly dischargees. The programme also covers transitional rehabilitation and visiting home care services.



Ends/Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Issued at HKT 11:52

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