Hospital service for the elderly in Hong Kong—present and future

Abstract

In a study of the utilization pattern of hospital beds for elderly patients admitted into the geriatric and medical units of Princess Margaret Hospital in 1989, the projected percentage increases in bed-days required for the 75+ age group in the next 5 years are 59% for male and 35% for female. if an age-related 75+ admission policy was adopted in the N. T. West region, the 1989 non-surgical acute and rehabilitation bed requirement for male and female would be 81 and 156 beds respectively (female/male bed ratio = 1.93). and the 1995 bed requirement would be at least 128 for male and 211 for female (female/male bed ratio = 1.64).