ENG-2014 — Page 186

8

Health

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 patients to reintegrate into society. In 2014, the HA's allied health outpatient departments recorded about 2.39 million attendances.

Inpatient Services

In 2013-14, $30.6 billion was spent on inpatient services provided by HA hospitals. A total of 1.61 million inpatients and day patients were discharged from public hospitals in 2014.

Accident and Emergency Services

Accident and emergency services are provided at 17 HA hospitals, delivering a high standard of service for critically ill or injured persons who need urgent medical attention and providing medical support for victims of disasters. In 2013-14, $2.3 billion was spent on these services. In 2014, 1.29 million people paid 2.23 million visits to the accident and emergency departments of public hospitals, an average of around 6,100 attendances per day.

Patients attending the accident and emergency departments of public hospitals are classified under five categories according to their clinical condition: critical cases are classified under Category 1, emergency cases under Category 2, urgent cases under Category 3, semi-urgent cases under Category 4, and non-urgent cases under Category 5. The triage system ensures that patients with more urgent needs receive prompt treatment. In 2014, all Category 1 patients received immediate treatment while over 96 per cent of Category 2 patients were treated within 15 minutes.

Medical Charges and Waiver

Fees for public hospital and clinic services for the general public are subsidised up to 96.8 per cent by the government, with people receiving assistance under the CSSA Scheme exempted from paying. Other needy groups (including low-income patients, the chronically ill, and elderly patients with financial difficulties) are assisted through a medical fee waiver scheme.

Private Hospitals

Hong Kong's 11 private hospitals served 362,376 inpatients in 2013, representing 19 per cent of the total number of inpatients in the territory. Spending on private inpatient services amounted to $12.6 billion in 2011-12, accounting for 33 per cent of overall expenditure on inpatient services in the public and private sectors.

Healthcare Service Development and Infrastructure

Public Hospital Development Projects

A number of public hospital development projects are in progress to help improve healthcare services in different parts of Hong Kong. In 2014, Caritas Medical Centre's new ambulatory/ rehabilitation block came into operation and the construction works for Yan Chai Hospital's new wellness centre were completed. Other ongoing projects include the remaining works for the redevelopment of Yan Chai Hospital and Caritas Medical Centre, and the construction of Tin Shui Wai Hospital and Hong Kong Children's Hospital. Preparatory works for the expansion of

142