In the area of Ladies’ Street in Mong Kok, there were few people and the scene was deserted during the long Easter holiday. The market crowds were not as lively as in past years, and there were flies in the tourist areas. However, the emergency departments of public hospitals were crowded with people waiting to be seen, creating a sharp contrast. Influenza deaths, frequent hospital accidents, and a shortage of staff make it difficult for patients to wait six or seven hours. Doctors and nurses explained that it was their first time encountering the new crown and flu virus following the epidemic. However, many private clinics closed during the holidays, exacerbating the problem with the hospital emergency department.
Yesterday, public hospitals were forced to extend waiting times to over six hours, including Kwong Wah Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital. At approximately 5 pm, North District Hospital had to wait for more than seven hours. Eastern District Hospital and Tuen Mun Hospital also had waiting times of up to five hours. The government has lost over 1,200 full-time doctors in three years, causing severe staff turnover in public hospitals. Liu Kaiwen, a nurse in the emergency department, revealed that the public hospitals are understaffed, with 60-70% of patients not requiring emergency medical services, worsening the situation.
Liang Zichao, a respiratory specialist, stated that the situation in the emergency department is attributable to multiple factors, including the fact that many private clinics closed during the holidays, compounded by increased demand for medical treatment during the peak influenza season. For non-critical emergency cases, patients are encouraged to seek treatment at private clinics that are still open during the holidays to avoid waiting too long in the emergency department. Lin Zhiyu, chairman of the Patient Policy Connection, explained that the emergency room is an expensive service that patients are urged to avoid abusing, but many people are habitually dependent on it.
Peng Hongchang, director of the Association of Community Organizations, has pointed out that the continuous loss of medical staff in recent years can be seen in extended waiting times at emergency departments. He believes that if authorities cannot solve the manpower problem in the short term, they should focus on influenza prevention by strengthening public education and publicity of influenza vaccinations. The waiting time for non-emergency patients in public hospitals may be long, and the Hospital Authority hopes for public understanding. Castle Peak Hospital also reported maintenance issues, but patient services were not affected, and no one was injured.
During the long Easter holiday, the crowds in the market were not as lively as in the past, and there were flies in the tourist area. However, in the emergency department of a public hospital, there are crowds of people waiting to “see emergencies”, forming a spectacle of sharp contrast. In the face of influenza killings, frequent accidents in public hospitals, and shortage of manpower, it is not easy for patients to wait for 6 or 7 hours. The doctors and nurses explained that it was the first time following the epidemic that they encountered the new crown and flu virus. However, many private clinics suspended consultations during the holidays, which exacerbated the emergency department of the hospital.
Yesterday, public hospitals were forced to explode. According to the website of the Hospital Authority, the waiting time for the emergency department of some hospitals once exceeded 6 hours, including Kwong Wah Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital. The North District Hospital once had to wait for more than 7 hours at regarding 5 pm. Hours, while the Eastern District Hospital and Tuen Mun Hospital also lasted up to 5 hours.
The public hospital has lost more than 1,200 full-time doctors in three years
Serious staff turnover in public hospitals is nothing new. According to government documents, Hong Kong lost a total of more than 1,200 full-time doctors in three years, of which only 191 were retired. The situation is cause for concern. Liu Kaiwen, a nurse in the emergency department, said in an interview that the public hospital has long been understaffed, and the emergency department is heavily loaded during long holidays. Sixty to seventy percent of the patients are non-emergency patients, that is, they do not need to use emergency department services, exacerbating the problem.
Although the Hospital Authority arranges 16 general outpatient clinics to provide services during the holidays, he pointed out that these outpatient clinics only last half a day during the holidays, that is, they only maintain services in the morning. The Accident and Emergency Department is under a lot of pressure, calling for help, and being a deadly doctor!” However, the Hospital Authority did not face up to the problem and did not formulate relevant guidelines to shorten the waiting time for patients.
Closed clinics on private holidays increase emergency load
Liang Zichao, a specialist in respiratory system, said that the situation in the emergency department is not caused by a single reason, except that most private clinics are closed during the holidays, and it is now the peak season of influenza, so the demand for medical treatment has increased sharply, causing the emergency department to be crowded . After the epidemic, society returned to normal and respiratory viruses reappeared. The most special thing this year is that children aged 3 or below have never been exposed to influenza viruses. However, the influenza vaccination rate of these children is only 8%. He described it as very unsatisfactory, so There are certain risks. Fortunately, the weather has warmed up in recent days, and the situation has not aggravated.
If the situation is not critical, he recommends that patients try their best to find private clinics that are still open during the holidays, so as to avoid waiting too long in the emergency department. Returning to normal does not mean “don’t do anything”. He pointed out that masks are not “wearing when you are sick”. He called on everyone to wear masks in high-risk places such as transportation and schools during the flu peak period, and get vaccinated as soon as possible to maximize their protection. to max.
Lin Zhiyu, chairman of the Patient Policy Connection, said that even if a patient has an emergency on a non-holiday, “I have tried to wait an hour to see it first, so it is not a problem to wait a few hours for the red sun.” He pointed out that some people are habitually dependent In the emergency room, “prediction has to wait”, but it is not that the patient wants to abuse it. “They all know that the cost is high, so they have to wait a long time.” However, if the family doctor they are familiar with does not open the door, the patient tends to seek treatment in the emergency room. Instead of looking for a new doctor.
Peng Hongchang, director of the Association of Community Organizations who cares regarding the rights of patients, said that this peak flu season is the first time to face it once more following the epidemic, and the continuous loss of medical staff in recent years can also be reflected in the waiting time of the emergency department. He believes that if the authorities are unable to solve the manpower problem in the short term, they need to “work hard” on influenza prevention, such as strengthening education and publicizing influenza vaccination. The Hospital Authority responded that the waiting time for non-emergency patients may be relatively long, and we hope the public will understand. If the patient’s condition is not critical, he should seek medical treatment from private clinics or other clinics.
Castle Peak Hospital lost materials due to maintenance accident
On the other hand, the multi-purpose activity room in a ward of Building A of Castle Peak Hospital had to be suspended for maintenance at the end of last month due to spalling of concrete. The staff of the fixed-term contract contractor informed the ward to complete the maintenance yesterday morning, but the staff of the ward found that the condition of the smallpox was different when they inspected it, so they notified the staff of the facility management department of the hospital. The inspection found that some of the materials that had just been used to repair the concrete fell off on the false ceiling, which required immediate repairs. The incident did not involve the safety of the building structure. No patients or staff were injured in the incident, and patient services were not affected.
In addition to the construction quality, the hospital also found that the contractor failed to notify the fixed-term contract building maintenance survey consultant to accept the project before notifying the wards that the repairs were completed. Castle Peak Hospital has instructed the project contractor to perform their duties conscientiously. The hospital’s building maintenance survey consultant will also investigate the cause of the incident from various aspects, including construction by engineering personnel, materials, methods, supervision, etc. The hospital has also arranged for a comprehensive inspection of the maintenance works handled by the same contractor to confirm safety.
In conclusion, the recent sparseness of crowds in Ladies’ Street, Mong Kok, is just a small example of the larger problem of the shortage of medical staff in Hong Kong. During the long Easter holiday, public hospitals were forced to wait for more than six hours, with patients waiting for emergency treatment under tremendous pressure. The shortage of medical personnel has become a chronic problem, with more than 1,200 full-time doctors lost in just three years. The closure of private clinics during holiday periods has exacerbated the emergency load, further adding to the issue. While it is recommended that patients seek assistance from private clinics that remain open during the holidays, it is also essential to raise awareness of the importance of vaccination and wearing masks to prevent the spread of the flu. We hope that the authorities will prioritize the recruitment of more medical staff to address this urgent issue.