Most patients visiting Hong Kong emergency departments at public hospitals at night for minor ailments were not aware they could go to evening clinics instead, although securing a booking was difficult and multiple calls were needed before a successful slot could be confirmed.
With a new fees regime in public hospitals beginning on Thursday, authorities aimed to divert less urgent cases away from accident and emergency (A&E) departments, encouraging patients to visit public clinics for minor or chronic conditions instead.
But at the A&E department in Sham Shui Po’s Caritas Medical Centre, the Post found that four out of the five patients it interviewed on Friday night, including some with minor ailments, were not aware of evening services available at 23 family medicine clinics across the city.
Dennis Yip, 45, who works with a property management company, was at the hospital’s A&E department for skin pain.
He was triaged as a “semi-urgent” case, the second-lowest priority in a five-tier system, and had to pay HK$400 (US$51) under the new charges after waiting 90 minutes to see a doctor.
“I haven’t even heard of night clinic services before,” Yip said. “A&E is still the best option available.”