Ambulance system to be revised in bid to avoid delays

The Fire Services Department and the Hospital Authority have agreed to amend their ambulance system so that patients in urgent need of treatment are taken to the nearest hospital.

This follows criticism by the Ombudsman that the present system causes delays of up to 10 minutes.

Under the system, Hong Kong is divided into 20 areas with a designated hospital for each, selected by criteria including capacity and available equipment.

But Ombudsman Alan Lai Nin said on Thursday that the designated hospital can be a long way from the pick-up point.

He quoted the department and the authority as saying that in future they would send patients with cardiac and respiratory arrest to the nearest hospital. But they did not offer a time frame.