174 Health
Under the HA's triage system, appointments for new patients are made on the basis of the severity of their condition in order to ensure that patients with acute conditions will be given priority in the allocation of services.
Patients in stable condition are referred to primary care practitioners in the private sector or the HA's general outpatient clinics for follow-up.
Allied Health Service
Allied health professionals working under the HA include audiologists, clinical psychologists, dietitians, occupational therapists, optometrists, orthoptists, physiotherapists, podiatrists, prosthetists and orthotists, speech therapists and medical social workers. They provide rehabilitative and extended care for patients receiving inpatient, outpatient, ambulatory and community care services to help them reintegrate into society. During the year, the HA strengthened the manpower for allied health services, providing support for the chronic disease management programme, mental health service, and integrated discharge support programme for elderly patients and other rehabilitation services, so as to further help patients reintegrate into society.
In 2011, members of the public made about 2.13 million visits to allied health outpatient departments.
Inpatient Services
Inpatient services are provided by the HA for patients in need. In the 2010-11 financial year, a total of $23.8 billion was allocated for providing inpatient services by hospitals under the HA.
In 2011, a total of 1.47 million inpatients and day-patients were discharged from public hospitals. In line with the international trend, the HA will continue to strengthen the development of ambulatory and community care programmes to provide patients with rehabilitation services in their respective districts as far as possible. This is a major shift in the provision of healthcare services from a disease treatment model to a holistic healthcare model, and from focusing on episodic acute hospital care to adopting a comprehensive approach centred on preventive, curative and rehabilitative health care.
Accident and Emergency Services
Accident and emergency services are provided at 16 hospitals under the HA. They deliver a high standard of service for critically ill or injured persons who need urgent medical attention. They also provide medical support for victims of disasters. A total of $1.8 billion was allocated for providing such services in the 2010-11 financial year.
In 2011, a total of 1.25 million people paid 2.2 million visits to the accident and emergency departments of public hospitals, an average of 6 034 attendances per day. Patients attending the accident and emergency departments of public hospitals are classified under five categories according to their clinical conditions: Critical cases are classified under Category 1, emergency cases under Category 2,
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