emergency numbers

we just moved to hk and live in the pokfulam area. what numbers should we call if our kids need emergency care? do we go straight to queen mary hospital? just dial 999? we heard there were a few options - we'd rather go to a private hospital but don't know what kind of emergency care they have.

Easiest way to get the number of a hospital is to dial 1083 and follow the cue. The best you can have is Queen Mary hospital in your vicinity which is the teaching hospital of the University of HK.

Private hospitals abound in HK island. Matilda hospital is at the peak and is welcome by most expat.

You will be in very good hands in the two teaching hospital, namely Queen Mary and Prince of Wales. You are betting on your good fortune with the others. Private ones are obvious after your money and they go for the jugular whenever possible. But patient comfort sometimes tip the balance. How would you like to have to wait for a urinal for one or two hours? Or the paracetamol for your feverish kids for half a day.

Yesterday the father of my friend got severe stomach bleeding because he was receiving aspiring without anti-ulcer drugs from a government hospital (for budget reason!).

All in all, I think it is very much a mind thing of the health provider. He/she can make heaven or hell for us. Get to know a good family doctor in your vicinity who then would be your health counsellor and gate keeper.