Corporate News

Jockey Club enhances public hospital facilities, benefiting patients and nursing personnel

12/15/2015

To provide patients and nursing staff with a safer and more comfortable environment, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has granted the Hospital Authority (HA) a HK$253 million donation to implement the Jockey Club Inpatient Facilities Modernisation Scheme, involving the installation of ceiling hoists and electrically-operated beds at all public hospitals in Hong Kong. The provision of 6,000-plus electrically-operated beds has already been completed at all public hospitals, while the installation of 520 ceiling hoists will be completed by phases in the coming two years.

Today (15 December), Club Deputy Chairman Anthony W K Chow; Executive Director, Charities and Community, Leong Cheung; HA Chairman Professor John C Y Leong and Chief Executive Dr Leung Pak-yin visited Tuen Mun Hospital to review the latest progress in the Scheme. 

Mr Chow said the Club had provided long-standing support to HA to launch various new projects, which enabled it to provide enhanced healthcare services for residents. “The 6,000-plus electrically-operated beds installed account for one-third of such beds in public hospitals, and over 50% of them are in ICU wards,” he noted. “We hope that more patients can benefit from this scheme in the future.”

The electrically-operated beds installed under the Jockey Club Inpatient Facilities Modernisation Scheme not only allow patients and carers to adjust the bed heights themselves, but also reduce medical complications by providing more effective musculoskeletal support and greater self-mobility.  In neurosurgical and ICU wards, the enhanced features of these beds enable them to be adapted to patients’ specific needs, such as automatic lateral tilt therapy for the prevention of pneumonia and pressure ulcers. They also allow in-bed X-ray examinations which save patients from uncomfortable lifting, as X-ray cassettes can be placed under their backs. Also, patients can undertake walking exercise with the assistance of the ceiling hoist to facilitate recovery.

HA Chairman Professor John C Y Leong expressed his gratitude to the Club for its support to HA.  “The Hong Kong Jockey Club has been providing strong support to HA to help us successfully achieve our mission of ‘Helping People Stay Healthy’. On behalf of HA and every patient benefited, I wish to extend our most heartfelt gratitude to The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for its generosity,” he said.

Every public hospital bed in those wards with highly dependent patients in public hospitals is now electrically-operated, creating not only a safer environment for such patients but also one where they can receive treatment with greater dignity.  This will help raise the overall standard of Hong Kong's healthcare services by strengthening occupational safety and efficiency.

Chan Cheuk-kui, Ward Manager (Neurosurgery) of Tuen Mun Hospital, believed the new facilities funded by the Club could greatly minimise the risk of occupational injury. “To lift up or lower traditional hospital beds, you have to step on the pedal hard,” he explained. “You also need to bend down to turn the handle. Our backs and wrists can get injured easily. Now our wards are better equipped with the latest facilities. This will benefit both patients and nursing staff,” he said.

The Club has long been a staunch supporter of Hong Kong’s medical development. Besides the Jockey Club Inpatient Facilities Modernisation Scheme, the Trust has supported the establishment of public clinics and health centres across the city in the 1950s and the Centre for Health Protection in reaction to the SARS outbreak in 2003, helping Hong Kong prevent and fight epidemics. Last year, the Trust donated HK$1.3 billion to The Chinese University of Hong Kong to help establish a teaching hospital, which will benefit local residents particularly the sandwich class.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class horse racing operator and Hong Kong’s largest community benefactor, as well as one of Asia’s most prestigious membership clubs. Operating as a not-for-profit organisation, the Club allocates its surplus funds for charitable and community projects. In 2014/15, its donations reached a record HK$3.87 billion, and in the last decade alone it supported over 1,300 projects. The Club is also Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer, contributing a record HK$20.05 billion in 2014/15. With about 70% of its revenue given back to society every year through donations and tax contributions, The Hong Kong Jockey Club delivers a significantly higher return to the community than any other racing and/or sports betting organisation in the world. As a socially responsible organisation, the Club helps Government combat illegal betting and advocates responsible gambling. The Club is also one of Hong Kong’s largest employers with over 24,000 full-time and part-time staff. Committed to global excellence and giving back to society, the Club is always “riding high together for a better future” with the people of Hong Kong.

Club Deputy Chairman Anthony W K Chow says the 6,000-plus electrically-operated beds installed account for one-third of such beds in public hospitals, and over 50% of them are in ICU wards.
Club Deputy Chairman Anthony W K Chow says the 6,000-plus electrically-operated beds installed account for one-third of such beds in public hospitals, and over 50% of them are in ICU wards.

Club Deputy Chairman Anthony W K Chow (centre) is presented with a souvenir by HA Chairman Professor John C Y Leong (2nd left), Chief Executive Dr Leung Pak-yin (2nd right), HA Board Members Wong Kwai-huen (1st left) and Charlie Yip (1st right).
Club Deputy Chairman Anthony W K Chow (centre) is presented with a souvenir by HA Chairman Professor John C Y Leong (2nd left), Chief Executive Dr Leung Pak-yin (2nd right), HA Board Members Wong Kwai-huen (1st left) and Charlie Yip (1st right).

Officiating guests tour Tuen Mun Hospital to learn more about the operation of electrically-operated beds and ceiling hoists.
Officiating guests tour Tuen Mun Hospital to learn more about the operation of electrically-operated beds and ceiling hoists.

Ward Manager (Neurosurgery) of Tuen Mun Hospital Chan Cheuk-kui believes the new facilities can greatly minimise the risk of occupational injury.
Ward Manager (Neurosurgery) of Tuen Mun Hospital Chan Cheuk-kui believes the new facilities can greatly minimise the risk of occupational injury.

Other Corporate News