Hospitals boost paediatric services to meet new cross-border demand

Paediatric services in another group of public hospitals are facing increasing pressure from the medical needs of children born in the city to mainland parents, although this year's "zero quota" policy banning such births has eased the strain on the maternity wards.

Hospitals in New Territories East - located along the railway line - are seeing a surge in cross-border demand because of their proximity to the mainland, said the group's chief executive Dr Fung Hong as he announced the hospitals' annual plan yesterday.

To ease the pressure, a few new paediatric doctors will be hired and at least 18 paediatric beds will be added to the hospitals this year, he said.

"The mainland parents who delivered their children in Hong Kong may not leave after their children are born. Some bring them back for treatment when they have medical needs," said Fung.

"That is why there is an increasing demand for services in the paediatric speciality."

Last week, the Hong Kong West group also said it had to boost its capacity to cater to Hong Kong-born mainland youngsters who came to the city to seek treatment for serious illnesses.