Compassionate care behind lead worries

The recent news that lead-contaminated water supplies had been discovered at several local housing estates and schools caused widespread public concern. As the primary guardian of health in Hong Kong, the Hospital Authority was immediately hard at work providing blood tests and related follow-up for anyone potentially affected by the contamination.

As the first hospital to begin carrying out tests, United Christian Hospital (UCH) provided an example of how to efficiently handle an unexpected increase in workload while upholding a patient-centred approach to care by finding ways to reduce the fears and anxieties of children and their parents. The hospital’s response to the crisis has been highly praised by the local community.

HCA: “Success is the only option”

Despite 10 years’ experience in collecting blood from patients, UCH Health Care Assistant (SOPD) Loo Tsui-ping says she had never before experienced such a high level of pressure when doing her job. “It is very difficult to take blood from children as their veins are often as thin as fishing line,” she explains. “Luckily, my colleagues did an excellent job in using candy to distract the children while I focused on drawing the necessary blood sample as quickly and as painlessly as possible.”

Stories behind the scenes

Helping hand from 'Li Ka-shing'

Dr Bill Chan recalls one case in which a young boy was refusing to have blood taken and had eventually become hysterical, causing his father to spank him in frustration. “I stepped in to separate the boy and his father, by giving the boy a hug,” says Dr Chan. “He was still very upset, so I began asking him all sorts of questions, such as ‘what do you want to be when grow up?’ and ‘how about being the richest man in Hong Kong like Li Ka-shing?’ The boy started to calm down as I peppered him with questions. Before he was even aware that it had happened, one of my colleagues had stepped in to take the blood sample in just a few seconds. Although the procedure was over, I continued to joke with the boy, telling him ‘you must give me a 20% discount card at your supermarket chain!’ This one case took 90 minutes to complete.”

Providing a pressure release valve for stressed patient

UCH Ward Manager (SOPD) Wong Yin-ling says that one of her most memorable moments during the contaminated water crisis came while she was following up with a woman who had had an elevated blood lead level. “The woman suddenly burst into tears and told me that her husband had passed away six months ago and she was finding it difficult to provide for her son,” says Yin-ling. “I tried to offer her some comfort and told her that she needs stay strong with her son.” Once the woman had begun to relax, Yin-ling continued to explain the next step for caring for individuals who have an elevated blood lead level. “I am very happy to not only have helped her deal with the impact of the lead-contaminated water incident, but to have also given her the chance to release the stress that she has been feeling in other parts of her life,” adds Yin-ling.