Hospital Authority to extend visiting hours at public hospitals by end of July
發佈日期: 2026-05-16 21:33
TVB News
The Hospital Authority begins extending visiting hours in non-acute wards of public hospitals earlier this month.
The HA says the increased time for family members to stay in the wards helps patients recover and strengthens doctor-patient relationships.
Hospitals in the HA's Kowloon Central and New Territories West Cluster are the first to implement the new visiting arrangements, which have been in place for about two weeks.
Visiting hours in non-acute wards, such as rehabilitation and nursing care wards, have been extended from 5-6 hours per day to at least 9 hours.
Paediatric wards allow 24-hour visiting.
All public hospitals will implement new visiting hours in by the end of July.
The HA says the extended visiting hours allow family members to stay longer in the wards, which can soothe patients' emotions, help the recovery process, and strengthen doctor-patient relationships.
Speaking on a radio programme, Dr Ada Yu, Chief Executive of Shatin Hospital, says a consultant doctor shared with her that the extension is good, as patients can greet family members and have the opportunity to update them on their condition.
However, some frontline staff are concerned the new arrangement will affect their work.
Mr. Fung, a ward assistant, says when family members visit, patients ask staff questions, which takes up manpower.
Hence, there may not be enough time to do the daily work.
Danny Tong, Chief Nurse Executive of the HA, says when a new policy or arrangement is introduced, the first priority is to maintain close communication with frontline staff.
If some work arrangements require flexible adjustments, then adjustments can be made.
Meanwhile, the public healthcare fee reform will be implemented from New Year's Day.
Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau, who attended a health economic conference this morning, said that Hong Kong's public healthcare expenditure has doubled to HK$250 billion over the past decade, necessitating reform. "We are facing a problem of a very high cost, a rapidly growing cost. In fact over the last decade, our recurrent health expenditure has nearly doubled. This warning calls for our health bureau to deepen our reform to enhance the overall resilience and sustainability of our healthcare system."
Lo says keeping the sustainability of the healthcare system fits the country's 15th Five year Plan, which aims to build a healthy China.
