Public Hospital Specialist Referrals and Waiting Times in Hong Kong

Public hospital specialist outpatient clinic referral process

1. Seek medical advice from your family doctor or clinic first, and the doctor will decide whether to make a referral based on your condition.
2. Prepare referral letters, identification and documents required by the hospital.
3. Confirm the initial consultation date, location, charges and required information according to the hospital notification.
4. Use the waiting information published by the Hospital Authority for reference; different specialties and disease triage arrangements may be different.
5. If you do not receive notification or need to change your appointment, please contact the referring hospital or clinic for verification.

How to check the waiting time for specialist clinics

• Whether the referral letter and relevant inspection reports are complete.
• Clinic location, date, check-in time and transportation arrangements.
• Medication list, allergy information and summary of past medical records.
• Whether the HA electronic service supports this appointment or inquiry.

How to deal with appointment changes and no-shows

Introduction to Hospital Authority’s Specialist Outpatient Services — Specialist new disease waiting time information — Introduction to the Hospital Authority’s “Appointment Service”

FAQ