Kwai Chung Hospital to Launch New Blocks and Enhanced Mental Health Services Starting March 30.

Kwai Chung Hospital new blocks to commence services in phases

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

Kwai Chung Hospital (KCH) announced today (March 24) that the new blocks under the phase 2 redevelopment of the hospital, including the Main Block and the Child and Adolescent Block, will commence services in phases starting from March 30. Clinical services of KCH will be progressively relocated to the new blocks, further enhancing the environment of mental health services and patient experience.

In the initial phase, the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Specialist Out-patient Clinic and the Perinatal Mental Health Clinic will be relocated to the Child and Adolescent Block to commence services starting from March 30. In the second phase, the Adult Psychiatric Specialist Out-patient Clinic and Psychogeriatric Specialist Out-patient Clinic services will be relocated to the Main Block in the second quarter of this year. In-patient services will also be gradually relocated to the new blocks.

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and the Perinatal Mental Health Clinic, which will be relocated to the new block in the initial phase, are currently operating separately at the Specialist Out-patient Clinics of Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital. Starting from March 30, these clinical services will be consolidated at the Child and Adolescent Block to provide patients with enhanced and more efficient mental health services. The Adult Psychiatric Specialist Out-patient Clinic and Psychogeriatric Specialist Out-patient Clinic services, which will be relocated to the new block in the second phase, are currently situated at the Specialist Out-patient Clinics of Princess Margaret Hospital and Ha Kwai Chung Polyclinic. They will be relocated to the Main Block within the second quarter of this year. Services at the East Kowloon Psychiatric Centre located in Diamond Hill will remain unchanged.

The Hospital Chief Executive of KCH, Dr Cheng Koi-man, stated, "The new hospital blocks are designed with the vision of a 'therapeutic village'. It will provide 1,000 psychiatric beds and aims to offer patients a more comfortable therapeutic environment, personalised treatment plans, and community integration services, accompanying patients and carers on their journey of recovery. The hospital will commence subsequent follow-up project works to demolish the old block and construct a therapeutic/rehabilitation garden, providing more outdoor activity space to support patients' recoveries."

Following the commissioning of the new blocks of KCH, a new general enquiry hotline at 2752 3000 will be activated simultaneously, while the existing hotline at 2959 8111 will remain in use until the completion of all service relocations. The enquiry hotlines and addresses of various Specialist Out-patient Clinics have also been updated (details are appended as Annex 1). To facilitate patients and visitors travelling to and from the KCH new blocks, designated stops for a green minibus and taxi stand will be set up at the main entrance of the KCH Main Block (detailed location is appended as Annex 2). The lift tower on Lai King Hill Road will be opened shortly to provide convenient access for the public.

KCH has informed the public of the service relocation through multiple channels, including direct phone calls to patients, distribution of appointment slips or relocation notices, placement of roll-up banners, and posting of posters and notices at the relevant hospitals and clinics. These measures aim to ensure that patients and their carers are well informed of the service relocation arrangements. For more information about KCH services, please visit the hospital’s website (https://www3.ha.org.hk/kch/en/index_default.htm).

Kwai Chung Hospital new blocks to commence services in phases Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Kwai Chung Hospital new blocks to commence services in phases Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FEHD announces latest arrangement and enhancement measures for public niche allocation

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (March 24) the latest arrangement and enhancement measures for public niche allocation.

Having reviewed the current supply and demand for public niches, the FEHD will enhance the existing public niche allocation arrangements. A new monthly allocation arrangement will be launched with effect from August 1 this year to replace the annual allocation. Under the new arrangement, in addition to the existing monthly allocation for Tsang Tsui Columbarium in Tuen Mun, the Department will include three additional columbaria for monthly niche allocation: Shek Mun Columbarium in Sha Tin, Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase VI in Fanling, and Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium in Chai Wan.

An FEHD spokesman said, "The new arrangement will commence in August. To facilitate its implementation, the Department will conduct an annual allocation exercise in April this year to address the demand for niches that has arisen since last year's annual allocation. In this Annual Allocation exercise, the FEHD will allocate a total of 12 150 extendable public niches, comprising 4 000 standard niches and 50 large niches at each of Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium, Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase VI, and Shek Mun Columbarium. A public drawing of lots and computer random balloting are planned for late July to determine the allocation sequence for all eligible applicants and the designated niches allocated to successful applicants. The exact date will be announced in due course."

The spokesman added, "Starting from August 1, the FEHD will implement the new monthly public niche allocation mechanism, providing a total of not less than 1 600 extendable niches each month across Tsang Tsui Columbarium, Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium, Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase VI and Shek Mun Columbarium (details of niche allocation are set out in the Annex). In the past two years, about 18 000 niches were allocated each year. The monthly supply of not less than 1 600 extendable niches, making a total supply of not less than 19 000 niches in a year, is sufficient to meet public demand. The Department will closely monitor monthly niche application trends and review and adjust the relevant arrangement as appropriate in light of actual needs."

The spokesman emphasised that every applicant will be allocated a niche under the new monthly allocation arrangement. If the number of applications for a particular columbarium exceeds the available quota, resulting in applicants not being allocated a niche at their selected columbarium, the FEHD will automatically allocate a niche at Tsang Tsui Columbarium. In such circumstances, applicants may decide whether to accept the automatically assigned niche at Tsang Tsui Columbarium.

If applicants choose to decline the automatically allocated niche at Tsang Tsui Columbarium, they may re-submit applications in the next monthly allocation exercise. However, if a successful applicant declines an allocated niche at their selected columbarium, the FEHD will not accept a further application for the same deceased person at the same columbarium for a period of six months thereafter.

After the implementation of the new monthly allocation arrangement, the FEHD will no longer conduct annual allocations.

For details of the niche allocation arrangements, please visit the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk).

In addition, Wo Hop Shek Garden of Forever Love Phase II, which provides abortus keeping services, will be open for public application starting April 1 this year. Also from the same date, the columbarium's first water-soluble commemorative facility, "The Spring of Love", will be opened for public use.

Source: AI-found images