This photo shows a view of the Central Government-Aided Emergency Hospital at Lok Ma Chau Loop on July 11, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

Starting this month, all public hospital patients will be able to benefit from a new program of radiological diagnostic services offered by the Central Government-Aided Emergency Hospital, the Hospital Authority announced on Tuesday.

The HA will provide a free shuttle bus service from July 28 to take patients between Sheung Shui, Tuen Mun or Yuen Long and the emergency hospital in Lok Ma Chau. 

The waiting time for computer scanning has been reduced from 106 weeks to 32, and the waiting time for magnetic resonance scanning has been from 104 weeks to 36

The Ambulatory Diagnostic Radiology Service Pilot Programme was launched by the Hospital Authority in April to shorten patients’ waiting time and relieve the pressure on radiology services in public hospitals. 

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Under the pilot program, selected patients with appropriate clinical conditions were invited to receive radiological diagnostic services at the Central Government-Aided Emergency Hospital. 

It was implemented initially in the New Territories East Cluster, covering seven public hospitals and 10 outpatient clinics, and later expanded to the New Territories West Cluster (four hospitals and eight clinics). 

Paul Lee, chairman of Coordinating Committee in Radiology of the Hospital Authority, told reporters on Tuesday that the waiting time of patients who participated in the pilot scheme has been significantly reduced. 

The waiting time for computer scanning has been reduced from 106 weeks to 32, and the waiting time for magnetic resonance scanning has been from 104 weeks to 36. 

Lee added that by the end of this year, it is estimated that more sophisticated 4,500 computer scans and 2,000 magnetic resonance scans can be completed under the program. 

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According to a survey of 212 patients who participated in the program, more than eighty-six percent said that they would choose to go to the emergency hospital if they needed to receive radiological diagnostic imaging services again.

Contact the writer at mikegu@chinadailyhk.com