New cancer wards in $6b hospital plan
United Christian Hospital will undergo a HK$6 billion expansion to double its number of beds and set up new cancer wards.
Around 2,000 new cancer cases are diagnosed each year in the Kowloon East cluster and to meet the increasing demand of patients, the hospital will build two new blocks as cancer and daytime care centers, as well as an administration and staff back-up office.
The first block is expected to be completed by 2018 at the earliest.
Currently, the hospital provides only a basic chemotherapy service to cancer patients in the cluster. Those who require electrotherapy have to go to hospitals in the Kowloon Central cluster of the Hospital Authority.
Joseph Lui Cho-ze, the chief executive of both the Kowloon East cluster and the hospital, expressed concern at the increase in elderly patients. "It is so inconvenient for patients to travel between clusters," he said.
The cancer center will be equipped with new cutting-edge machines designed to provide all- round treatment.
Two wards with 70 beds will be set up, Lui said.
He explained that the project, approved by the Hospital Authority, also includes the demolition of blocks F, G and H, and part of block P.
The hospital has submitted a feasibility and technical study to the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and will request funding from the Legco Finance Committee.
Meanwhile, the Tseung Kwan O Hospital is developing specialized psychiatric outpatient clinics, as well as one or two wards for obstetrics and gynecology that will have 36 to 72 beds.
Hospital chief executive Tom Kam-tim said the specialized clinic would categorize patients according to age. "It is to tackle the increasing demand of young patients with drug addiction or personal problems," Tom said.
He added that the new wards for expectant mothers, which will be located in the Ambulatory Block, would hopefully meet the increasing demand of young couples in Tseung Kwan O and Sai Kung district. Construction of the block started last year and will be completed by 2013 at the earliest.
In addition, the hospital will set up a cataract center to better serve patients, who are expected to number 12,000 by the end of year. The center will be able to handle an extra 2,500 to 5,000 patients when it opens in April next year.
Meanwhile, Lui said the cluster is recruiting and training 15 health-care workers as case managers for the psychiatric clinics to provide intensive care to mentally ill patients.
Source: www.thestandard.com.hk
