The Hospital Authority on Wednesday said the redeveloped Kwai Chung Hospital would better help Hong Kong's psychiatric patients with their recovery.

Currently, the psychiatric hospital serves about one-fourth of patients across the city.

Under the transformation, a new main block and child and adolescent block have been built – drastically increasing the size of the decades-old hospital from 80,000 square feet to 134,000 square feet to offer 1,000 beds.

The new structure also features a “therapeutic village”, in which wards are designed to allow patients to receive treatment in a comfortable and home-like environment.

Kwai Chung Hospital Chief Executive Cheng Koi-man said with more indoor and outdoor spaces, the new settings are a break from what people usually expect from psychiatric hospitals.

“Through the concept of 'therapeutic village', we mainly want to make it convenient for the public to seek medical care, improve the environment and step up our services, so that those in need do not need to fear about seeing a doctor and shy away from seeking treatment,” he said.

“We hope this will bring patients in need to us for treatment and allow us to cure them and help them fully recover.”

He went on to say that the wards are designed to prioritise patients’ safety and staff operations.

For instance, the fence at the rooftop garden is 2.7 metres tall, and all wards are equipped with a smart card tapping system.

Each ward comes with a garden, Cheng added, to allow patients who are deemed suitable to be able to take a break and relax there.

In terms of treatment, he said the hospital would tailor make plans for each patient based on their individual needs through medication, psychotherapy and behavioural therapy.

Meanwhile, the child and adolescent block at the redeveloped hospital is the only service block dedicated to that particular age group in the city, offering one-stop treatment services to those under 18.

It adopts a one-stop service model that combines outpatient, day hospital, and inpatient care.

Cheng said the new blocks bring together specialist outpatient services that used to be scattered at various hospitals and clinics.

A majority of the facilities and services have already been relocated to Kwai Chung Hospital since the new blocks commenced services in phases since March, the doctor said, and he expects the remainder to be completed by September.


Edited by Tony Sabine