KUCHING: The Sarawak Health Department has advised non-emergency patients to go to any of the numerous health clinics in and around Kuching for treatment, rather than crowding the Sarawak General Hospital’s (SGH) Emergency and Trauma Department (ETD).
Its director Dr Ooi Choo Huck said this in a statement following recent media reports on the issuance of a public notice regarding overcrowding at SGH’s ETD, including efforts to transfer non-emergency cases to nearby health clinics.
He added that they can seek treatment at eight health clinics (KK) namely Jalan Masjid KK, Tanah Puteh KK, Batu Kawa KK, Kota Sentosa KK, Petra Jaya KK and UTC Kuching KK as well as the recently upgraded KK at Taman Malihah and Pantai Damai.
“In addition, there are also six community clinics that non-emergency patients may go for treatment namely Demak Laut Community Clinic (KKom), Matang KKom, Tabuan Jaya KKom, Stutong KKom, Batu Kawa KKom and Kota Padawan KKom.
“All these clinics have medical officers who are able to provide quality health services to the locals,” he said.
Dr Ooi stated that those who come to SGH’s ETD, will still be treated by medical personnel, however, the waiting period to be examined will take longer compared to that at the health clinics.
He said this is because the SGH’s ETD needs to prioritise treatment for emergency patients.
The department would like to advise patients who come to the ETD, to seek treatment at the health clinics without having to be referred to the hospital.
Only, if necessary, the clinic will refer unwell patients to the hospital to cut down the waiting time.
The health clinics operates on weekdays (Monday to Friday) from 8 am to 5 pm while, the community clinics operates daily between 11 am and 8 pm (except Batu Kawa KKom operates from 10 am to 7 pm, with a 1 pm-2 pm break).
As for UTC Kuching KK, its operating hour is based on UTC Kuching’s operating time, which is from 8 am to 7 pm on weekdays and between 8 am and 5 pm on weekends.
All of the health clinics and community clinic are not operating on public holidays.
