The Social Welfare Department urged providers to simplify application processes of respite services for the elderly and people with disabilities, especially for those who need help right away.

This came as the Office of the Ombudsman found that carers sometimes faced cumbersome application procedures for short-term or temporary services. For instance, they had to attend in-person interviews or facilitate home visits before a formal application can be submitted.

Assistant director David Ng from the department's rehabilitation and medical social services branch told RTHK on Friday he welcomed the Ombudsman's findings.

He said the department is actively following up on the Ombudsman's recommendations and working to enhance the service.

"We have recently reminded service units to streamline the application procedures as much as they can and admit cases with urgent needs as soon as possible," Ng said.

"Sometimes care centres mix up those requiring respite with long-term residential care services.

"I believe they were not making things difficult for users intentionally, but they just wanted to know more about them."

Ng emphasised that both in-person interviews and home visits were not required as they did not want to increase the burden for caregivers.

As for centres that required applicants to undergo additional body checks, such as X-ray and blood tests, on top of the ones listed by the department, he said service providers have been told not to do so anymore.

Ng went on to say a warning would be handed out to centres that contravened such practices.

The Ombudsman also found that the department's vacancy enquiry system for respite services and emergency placement often contained incorrect or outdated information, and that applicants had no reliable access to information on the spots that were available.

Ng blamed miscommunication for the mishap, stressing that providers were not deliberately attempting to conceal information.