2nd June 2023 – (Hong Kong) Kwong Wah Hospital has appealed to patients with non-urgent medical needs to seek treatment in general out-patient clinics or private clinics as far as possible. The appeal comes as the hospital has noticed a significant increase in the number of patients seeking medical treatment since the new Accident and Emergency Department was put into service. The hospital has seen a rise from about 300 cases on weekdays to more than 400 cases, most of which are semi-urgent and non-urgent cases, causing longer wait times for patients.
The hospital is committed to providing appropriate treatment to patients according to the severity of their medical conditions. However, in order to ensure patients with urgent medical needs can receive medical treatment in a timely manner, the hospital is urging patients with stable and mild conditions to seek medical treatment elsewhere.
According to the Hospital Authority website, the waiting time for Kwong Wah Hospital‘s Accident and Emergency Department exceeded eight hours at 12.15 pm on 2nd June. Other hospitals, including United Christian Hospital, Prince of Wales Hospital, and Queen Mary Hospital, also had waiting times of over eight hours. The waiting time for emergency departments at Princess Margaret Hospital, North District Hospital, Tuen Mun Hospital, and Tseung Kwan O Hospital exceeded three hours.