Major extensions to visiting hours at public hospital non-acute wards before end of July
發佈日期: 2026-05-01 21:30
TVB News
The Hospital Authority will extend visiting hours in phases at non-acute public hospital wards before the end of July.
The visitation period will be extended to 9 hours with the exception of pediatric wards, which will be open to visitors 24 hours each day.
The scheme will first be implemented at the Kowloon Central Cluster starting tomorrow.
Mr. To's 81-year-old mother, who sought treatment at a public hospital for a severe case of pneumonia, was required to be hospitalised on a long-term basis.
But limited visiting hours have long been a source of frustration for her son.
Mr. To said his job often requires him to work on night shifts, meaning that he could only visit his mother during the morning, adding that his lack of rest and heavy traffic often results in the visitation period being over by the time he arrives at the hospital.
Under the Hospital Authority's latest measure, visiting hours at non-acute public hospital wards such as the rehabilitation and infirmary wards will be extended from the original five to six hours to at least nine hours.
As for pediatric wards, the visitation period will be extended to 24-hour access.
The updated scheme will be implemented in phases before the end of July.
Dr. Danny Tong, a Chief Manager at the Hospital Authority said the previous arrangement often led to large crowds being packed in the same facility, adding that the new measure would be a major boost in convenience for all visitors.
But Tong stressed the extended hours do not apply to internal medicine, surgical or orthopedic wards, which will remain open to visitors for only four hours a day.
The Hospital Authority said it will assess the results of the measure and consider expanding the scheme to emergency wards in future.
