‘Covid-only hospital move led to fewer serious cases’

Doctors at Queen Elizabeth Hospital say the medical condition of their Covid patients has improved since the facility was converted into a Covid-only site earlier this month.

Dr Wu Tak-chiu, who heads the hospital’s infectious diseases team, on Tuesday said the number of serious cases has dropped by one-fourth now they have more beds for Covid patients.

“Patients are no longer stranded in the accident and emergency department for long periods of time, which delayed their treatment,” he said.

“Even though the condition of some patients may be rather serious, the number of intensive care beds has doubled from around 11 or 12, so more patients can receive intensive care.”

Wu added that the concentration of oxygen required by intubated patients is now lower.

A chief manager with the Hospital Authority, Dr Tang Kam-shing, said doctors can focus on treating Covid patients, and infection control measures can be simplified as Covid and non-Covid patients no longer mix.

Tang said the number of patients will hopefully decrease and they will look into when non-Covid healthcare services can resume at the hospital.