Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority ‘well prepared’ for surge in demand over winter, as officials voice concern over children with multiple infections

Hong Kong's Hospital Authority is fully prepared for an anticipated increase in demand for services during the winter season. They plan to enhance the patient capacity of clinics. However, officials have expressed concerns about respiratory illnesses in children caused by multiple viral infections. Dr. Larry Lee Lap-yip, the chief manager at the authority, stated that preparations for the expected surge include hiring additional staff, setting up an extra 103 beds, and increasing the service capacity at general outpatient clinics by 5 to 10 per cent.

Dr. Lee expressed his concerns, which are based on several factors such as an expected rise in demand due to a decrease in private healthcare services and the possibility of more severe cases over the Christmas holiday. He emphasized that it was challenging to predict when public hospitals would experience an increase in cases, but assured that the authority was doing its utmost to prevent the city's healthcare system from becoming overwhelmed.

Dr. Yeung Yiu-cheong, deputy chief of service for medicine and geriatrics at Princess Margaret Hospital, reported that the latest data showed the number of Covid-19 cases were stable and seasonal flu infections remained low. According to the authority, the number of samples that tested positive for seasonal flu at public laboratories was 4. 52 per cent, below the 9. 21 per cent threshold that signalled the start of a flu season. Health officials also expressed concerns that some children being admitted to public hospitals had contracted multiple viral infections, as data showed the occupancy rate for paediatric wards had reached 97 per cent as of Thursday.