There are a total of 14 public hospitals that provide paediatric services in the current healthcare system in Hong Kong, accounting for approximately 32% of all public hospitals in the city1.
Evolution of Paediatric Care
No service model（1930-50s）
After World War II and during the British colonial period, due to insufficient funding for medical projects, young patients were mainly cared for by general practitioners in private clinics.
Starting stage(1950-70s)
Queen Mary Hospital and Kowloon Hospital opened paediatric wards for referrals, with most doctors responsible being general practitioners.
In 1955, the first paediatric hospital2 was established in Shatin, providing rehabilitation care for children with polio and tuberculosis of the spine.
In 1962, Dr. Elaine Field, the first paediatric professor, established the "Hong Kong Spastic Association3" to provide special education services for children with cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities, which led to the professionalisation of paediatric care.
The University of Hong Kong established the Department of paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, becoming the first institution to train paediatric specialists.
Building towards universalisation (1970-90s)
In 1982, Queen Mary Hospital opened a paediatric and neonatal intensive care unit
In 1982, Grantham Hospital launched a project related to paediatric cardiology
In 1985, Duchess of Kent Children's Hospital established a paediatric neurology department
Milestone in professionalisation (1990s-present)
Public hospitals introduced play therapy to provide timely emotional support to young patients during medical procedures.
In 2007, plans were made to establish the "Centre of Excellence in Paediatrics" (note: predecessor of the Hong Kong Children's Hospital) to bring together experts in a collaborative manner, and to concentrate on research and training to further enhance the quality of paediatric medical services.
In 2018, the "Hong Kong Children's Hospital" was established as a third-tier specialist referral center, focusing on the treatment of severe, complex, uncommon, and cross-disciplinary paediatric illnesses, providing diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation services for children in need from birth to 18 years old throughout Hong Kong.
The paediatric departments of the 13 public hospitals are mainly responsible for second-tier, emergency, and community care services, establishing a coordinated and coherent network of paediatric services.
2. Renamed in 1970 as the "Duchess of Kent Children's Hospital," managed by the Hospital Authority and affiliated with the Hong Kong West Cluster. Current paediatric speciality services include spinal and skeletal deformities, cerebral palsy, limb length discrepancies, skeletal and joint tuberculosis, and problems with the nervous system.
3. Renamed in 2008 as the "The Spastics Association of Hong Kong".
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