Hong Kong public hospitals to dedicate 9,000 beds to coronavirus cases with severe symptoms, 4 more medical facilities to be converted
- Hospital Authority officials say four more hospitals, including Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai, will be transformed into designated coronavirus facilities
- Carrie Lam says additional beds along with makeshift hospital are still not enough to meet the needs of all patients
The announcement was made after sources revealed on Tuesday that Queen Elizabeth Hospital would become the third facility taking in only Covid-19 patients, with North Lantau Hospital and Tin Shui Wai Hospital offering up 460 beds. The hospitals will also treat Covid-19 patients that fall in the high-risk category.
Patients’ rights advocates questioned whether non-coronavirus patients would receive appropriate follow-ups after being transferred to other facilities, while health care workers had asked for clearer guidelines for those working in designated hospitals.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said in a press briefing on Wednesday that around 9,000, or 50 per cent, of general inpatient beds at public hospitals would be dedicated to Covid-19 cases, without specifying when they would be ready.
Hospital Authority officials said four more facilities, including Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai, Haven of Hope Hospital in Tseung Kwan O, Fung Yiu King Hospital in Pok Fu Lam and Kowloon Hospital in Kowloon City would be transformed into premises for Covid-19 patients after the conversion of Queen Elizabeth, adding that the roll-out of 9,000 beds would be completed in phases.
There are more than 8,800 coronavirus patients being treated in public hospitals, including 68 people who are in critical condition and 107 people with serious illness.