Keeping the faith through challenging times

Dr Lam Wai-man
Consultant (Medicine), Haven of Hope Hospital

During the peak of the fifth wave of COVID-19 outbreak, some public hospitals were converted into designated hospitals, including the Haven of Hope Hospital which provides mainly convalescent services. The then Deputy Hospital Chief Executive Dr Lam Wai-man was tasked to rapidly convert six wards in the new Trinity Block to accommodate COVID-19 patients. Dr Lam saw the right timing for the task, “it was as if God had prepared it for this role long ago.” He reflects, “if it had happened this year, the wards would have been full of convalescent patients and it would have been much more difficult for the conversion.”

As a committed Christian, Dr Lam always faces challenges with positive attitude and believes it is better for people to pool their strengths and face difficult situations together rather than alone. “Different colleagues have their own expertise,” he says. “So, there are times when everyone needs to step out of their small universe and rely on teamwork and tacit understanding to get things done.” He cites the example of a period when staff from Engineering Department modified general wards rapidly to meet infection control requirements for COVID-19 patients, while respiratory physicians developed a new treatment protocol for COVID-19 patients. “Although it was a new endeavour, no one refused to help, and instead they were dedicated to helping other acute hospitals share the burden,” he recalls.

Sometimes, however, the more fundamental dilemmas faced by patients can be tougher to deal with than epidemic arrangements and hospital expansion, says Dr Lam who retired from his administrative positions at the end of last year to focus on clinical work. On the first consultation with Dr Lam, one middle-aged male patient with terminal cancer spoke about his pain of body and the guilt he felt for his family. “After I listened and responded to his needs, he expressed his disappointment because he was expecting more help,” Dr Lam says, adding that he empathised with the patient’s feeling of helplessness and was inspired by it. “You may not be able to help a palliative care patient solve all his problems, but you can still walk with him and hold on to hope together so that he can keep going.”

Dr Lam will retire in May this year and hopes to pass on his faith as well as his belief in the power of hope and love to young doctors. “The legacy of generations is infinite continuity,” he says.