CWM Hospital is working on getting its services normalized to cater for COVID and non-COVID patients – Dr Fong

Permanent Secretary for Health Dr James Fong says they are remodelling their health service provisions to adapt to a more COVID Safe environment.

Dr Fong says with the increase in the proportion of non-COVID admissions, the CWM Hospital is working on getting its services normalized to cater for COVID and non-COVID patients.

Dr Fong further says this would include resuming the outpatients and non-emergency inpatient services in a more COVID safe manner.

He adds the Heads of Departments, together with Clinical Governance and Infection Control Teams are working on protocols to be used for patients to access Specialist Services.

Dr Fong highlighted that this would include risk assessing patients and aligning their Infection Prevention and Control measures to protect staff and patients.

He says the special outpatient clinic has already started a digital platform to provide tele-health and virtual consultation.

Dr Fong adds using this platform patients are called, a telephone consultation is done and prescribed medications are provided and blood test forms have also been sent via Viber to patients.

Dr Fong says some services such as blood donation services, bloodletting services and processing of SOPD prescriptions for refilling are being carried out in more open spaces.

He further says the objective is to open services throughout September with particular attention to their Ophthalmology and Dental Services.

Dr Fong says many of the CWM doctors and nurses had been deployed to FEMAT and their transition is being coordinated with the return of the deployed staff.