Hong Kong Children’s Hospital suspends ENT department, affecting 500 patients

Hong Kong Children’s Hospital has temporarily suspended services at its ear, nose and throat department due to a manpower crunch, with more than 500 patients referred to other public medical institutions.

The Hospital Authority confirmed the move on Friday, saying the department’s services had been provided by a team comprising an associate consultant, a resident and a part-time consultant but only one member was currently still working.

“One is sick and another has resigned,” an authority spokesman said, adding ear, nose and throat services at the hospital in Kai Tak had been affected since November.

More than 500 patients, including those who were under other specialists, had been referred to services provided by other public hospitals with bookings arranged, the spokesman said.

The authority’s group of hospitals in central Kowloon would coordinate and provide help to patients who required medical treatment or emergency surgery, he added.

“The Hospital Authority is deeply sorry for the inconvenience and worries caused to the young patients and parents, and it expects that the services at Hong Kong Children’s Hospital will resume after the manpower situation is improved,” he said.