Code of Practice for Private Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Maternity ...

Preface
Under the Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Maternity Homes
Registration Ordinance, Cap 165 of the Laws of Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region, China, any person who intends to operate a health care
institution in the form of a private hospital, maternity home or nursing home
must obtain prior approval from the Director of Health. Examples of categories
of institutions that fall within the jurisdiction of this ordinance are private
hospitals, maternity homes, nursing homes for the elderly, renal dialysis centres,
treatment centres for drug dependent persons and day surgery facilities.
With the advancement of medical technology and rising community
aspiration for quality services, there is growing public expectation for health care
institutions to provide quality services and the Director of Health to fulfil his role
as the regulator and to keep a close monitor on the registered institutions. To
enable institutions to understand the requirements and standards of good practice,
the then Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food directed that a “Code of
Practice” be developed and implemented in the private hospitals in 2003-2004.
This “Code of Practice” (Code) for the registration of private hospitals,
nursing homes and maternity homes sets out the standards of good practice for
health care institutions to adopt in order to provide quality care to patients.
Requirements are set out to be adopted in the management of staff, management
of the premises and services, setting out policies and procedures, and setting up a
system to deal with complaints. The Code also includes requirements on
specific types of clinical and support services. The professional standards and
regulatory standards are applicable to all private hospitals, nursing homes and
maternity homes, unless otherwise stated. Individual health care institution
needs to observe requirements in relevant sections set out in the Code taking into
account the scope and complexity of its functions.
Code of Practice for Private Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Maternity Homes 8