XN000022-1996-03-06 — Page 123

(b)

(c)

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The practice of taking patients to the nearest accident and emergency facility is a standard procedure that has been developed by the Fire Services Department, in consultation with the Hospital Authority and the Department of Health. Getting the earliest possible life-saving aid to casualties is in their best interests, even if patients subsequently need to be transferred to receive more specialised treatment. A decision was made to transfer patients to the Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) by land, because they could then receive continuous ambulance care and treatment en route. This form of transfer, in fact, allowed the patients to be delivered to PWH as quickly as any alternative. The investigation team appointed by the Director of Fire Services will report on this practice and will consider what improvements may be made.

We would ask the Commander, British Forces for assistance when we know that Government's resources are insufficient or inadequate to deal with a situation effectively and within a reasonable period. On this occasion, the Government Flying Services (GFS) had sufficient helicopters to perform all the necessary duties and did not, therefore, need to seek additional assistance from the British Forces. The area where rescue services were being conducted was very small. In order to ensure flight safety in the operational area, there was a practical limit on how many helicopters could be deployed. With reinforcement from Civil Aid Services to form the rescue teams. it was not considered necessary to seek assistance from the British Garrison on rescue support.

(d) The Hospital Authority Head Office (HAHO) is responsible for liaison to ensure that adequate medical resources are provided. On this occasion, the HA implemented its contingency plans when the FSCC notified it of the need to treat the casualties. An emergency medical team was despatched immediately to the scene and supporting staff were mobilised in PWH to prepare for admission of the burn patients. To ensure speedy and effective treatment of these patients, HAHO also co- ordinated efforts to support the hospital by making contingency arrangements to transfer patients to other hospitals if necessary, and providing emergency funding for additional supplies of medical consumable and equipment.

There was a sufficient supply of skin in the public hospital system to cater for the short-term skin graft requirements of all the burn patients admitted to PWH. Transplant co-ordinators facilitated access to the skin banks. The public appeal for skin donations was made in anticipation of the long-term requirements for the management of the burn patients.