Matthew Kwok: There are always more solutions than difficulties

New Hospital Authority (HA) Board member Matthew Kwok, Advanced Practice Occupational Therapist at Pok Oi Hospital, firmly believes there are always more solutions than difficulties in healthcare, despite Hong Kong’s ageing population and the rising number of patients with chronic diseases.

Matthew has been working in the frontline of public hospitals for 15 years and was seconded to Allied Health Grade Office in HA Head Office in 2020 to provide assistance in the review of the effectiveness and deliverables of annual plans submitted by allied health and the Key Performance Indicators of allied health. During the epidemic, when a hotline was set up for patients with COVID-19, Matthew was assigned to be the centre-in-charge and responsible for staff coordination and coaching. The experience made him realise solutions can always be found with a dedicated team.

“On one occasion, there was a patient whose test result was still positive 10 days after he was first infected,” Matthew recalls. “The patient called the hotline saying he was frustrated and had suicidal idea. The call was taken by a psychiatric nursing colleague who understood the patient’s need and helped him untie the knot in his heart.” The ability of the nurse to calm the patient and dispel his suicidal thoughts demonstrated how worthwhile the hotline service was.

Matthew currently provides fall assessments in emergency medicine ward, advising the team on patients’ readiness for discharge. He also pays home visits to provide outreach occupational therapy services. He assesses the living environment of patients and helps them resume their premorbid role and function in view of avoiding unnecessary readmissions and hence, hoping to reduce the heavy burden of public healthcare system.

“90% of medical services in Hong Kong are provided by the HA, and the increasing number of patients and the attrition rate of staff create a vicious circle. That is why sustainability is of paramount importance to the HA,” Matthew observes, adding that retention measures and smart hospital initiatives will help the HA to continue to develop. The Occupational Therapy Department where he works, for instance, provides Virtual Reality training for patients. It aims to train patients’ community living skills in hospital environment, in a bid to shorten the length of stay.

Matthew’s involvement in inpatient, outpatient, and day hospital services means he can give advice from a wider perspective. “The decisions made by the HA Board relate to all the people of Hong Kong,” he says. “I will do my best, and be fully prepared for meetings. I want to contribute more to our public healthcare system.”

In his free time, Matthew is a keen football player and a Manchester United fan and says the team’s recent unexpected FA Cup Final victory against rivals Manchester City shows the power of dedication. “You will always encounter obstacles at work or in your personal life,” he reflects. “Even if your current situation is not as good as you hoped, you can achieve your goal if you are dedicated to it.”

Profile of Matthew Kwok

• Advanced Practice Occupational Therapist at Pok Oi Hospital
• Occupational Therapy Outreach Team leader at Pok Oi Hospital
• Motto: There are always more solutions than difficulties