Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ8: Barrier free access and facilities in public hospitals and clinics
Following is a question by the Hon Albert Ho and a written reply by the
Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today
(May 16):
Question:
Regarding barrier free access and facilities in hospitals and clinics under the
Hospital Authority (HA), will the Government inform this Council:
(a) given that the Disability Discrimination Ordinance (Cap. 487) stipulates
that unless there is unjustifiable hardship in compliance with the statutory
requirements, barrier free access and facilities should be provided for persons
with disabilities (PWDs), but some organisations have pointed out that the
Building (Planning) Regulations (Cap. 123F) (the Regulations), Design Manual:
Barrier Free Access 1997 and Design Manual: Barrier Free Access 2008 (Design
Manual 2008) are not applicable to government premises, whether the authorities
will extend the scope of application of the Regulations to require all hospitals
and clinics under HA to provide barrier free access and facilities;
(b) given that HA has been reviewing, studying and exploring the feasibility of
improving the environment and facilities of its hospitals and clinics since 2010
with a view to achieving the requirements of the Design Manual 2008, whether it
knows the latest results and progress of such efforts; and
(c) whether it has comprehensively assessed if the relevant medical facilities
in HA's hospitals and clinics are suitable for PWDs to use; if it has, of the
assessment results; if not, whether it will conduct the relevant assessment, and
discuss with the concerned groups for the rights of PWDs to understand their
needs and make improvement accordingly?
Reply:
President,
(a) Under the Disability Discrimination Ordinance (Cap. 487), it is unlawful to
discriminate against persons with disabilities (PWDs) in relation to the
provision of means of access to any premises that the public is entitled to
enter or use. This Ordinance also applies to existing and newly constructed
buildings. Like other private facilities, public bodies such as the Hospital
Authority (HA) must ensure that their facilities are in compliance with the
statutory or design requirements on the provision of barrier free facilities
under the Disability Discrimination Ordinance, the Buildings Ordinance (Cap.123)
and the Design Manual. The Equal Opportunities Commission, being the independent
statutory body for the enforcement of the Disability Discrimination Ordinance,
will follow up complaints about barrier free facilities, including those against
facilities of public institutions. This is to ensure that the premises which
will be used and accessed by PWDs in general provide accessible facilities for
PWDs in a non-discriminatory manner. Public views on the access and facilities
in HA's hospitals or clinics can be forwarded to the Public Complaint Management
Officer of the HA Head Office or the Patient Relations Officers of various
hospitals/institutions.
HA embraces the spirit of barrier free access and endeavours to create a barrier
free environment for PWDs in its hospitals and clinics. All newly constructed
facilities and those with major renovation designed and completed after December
2008 have adopted the requirements as set out in the "Design Manual: Barrier
Free Access 2008" (Design Manual 2008). For other existing facilities, HA is
progressively incorporating the requirements while ensuring that disruption to
patients and daily services is minimised.
(b) Since 2010, HA has been conducting a thorough review to study the
feasibility of improving its hospitals and clinics, with a view to achieving the
requirements of the Design Manual 2008. This review has been taking place in
three phases, with the first phase covering all general outpatient clinics (GOPCs),
and the second all acute hospitals with accident and emergency (A&E) services.
These two phases have been completed. HA will complete the third phase of the
review, which covers the remaining public hospitals, within 2012.
On barrier free access improvement works, HA's GOPCs have been given priority in
this regard because of their high patient volume in relatively confined floor
areas. HA has completed barrier free access improvement works for 18 GOPCs at a
cost of around $5 million, and similar improvement works will be carried out in
2012-13 for another 14 clinics at an estimated cost of around $4 million. HA
plans to complete works of all remaining GOPCs by the end of 2014. As for public
hospitals, HA has completed preliminary assessments on the 16 public hospitals
with A&E departments. Barrier free access improvement works will be arranged for
these hospitals according to the situation of individual hospitals without
affecting their daily operation. HA expects that the improvement works of the 16
hospitals will be completed by the end of 2014 and those of the remaining
hospitals will be completed by the end of 2016.
(c) HA has all along closely monitored the latest international research and
development in medical facilities and strived to promote modernisation of
medical facilities. HA also updates and replaces medical equipment in its
hospitals and clinics regularly to enhance the service quality and ensure that
patients are given the most appropriate treatment. The medical facilities used
by HA are suitable for people of varying physical and health conditions and are
operated by qualified staff. If necessary, patients will use such equipment
under the supervision of the relevant staff. Besides, HA has been maintaining
communication with PWDs and the relevant groups to ensure that the medical
services provided can cater for the needs of various patients.
Ends/Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Issued at HKT 12:54
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