Sandwich Class Beds Programme

Thanks to the generous donations from benefactors, the Sandwich Class Beds (SCB) Programme has been in operation since 2015. This programme provides partial hospital fee subsidies for terminally ill patients from the “sandwich class” — those just outside the social security net — allowing them to receive quality palliative and hospice care in a supportive environment.

Service Highlights

Close Medical Supervision

A team led by palliative care and geriatric specialist physicians and nurses provides 24-hour professional and holistic care. Resident doctors conduct daily ward rounds (except on holidays) to ensure patients receive prompt and effective symptom management and high-quality medical supervision.

Comprehensive Medical Facilities

The Centre could provide a range of specialized medical services to meet treatment needs of patients, including IV drips and injections (e.g., antibiotics), drainage of ascites, high-flow oxygen therapy, sputum suction, rehabilitation therapy, and care for colostomies and tracheostomies.

Integrated Psycho-Social-Spiritual Care

Our resident chaplains and social workers provide personalized support to address the emotional, social, and spiritual needs of our patients and their families through pastoral care, casework, communal activities, grief counseling, bereavement support, and volunteer services.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be referred by a medical social worker from the collaborating hospitals or evaluated by our centre’s social worker, while meeting all the following conditions:

- Diagnosed with end-stage cancer or organ failure, with a life expectancy of 6 months or less.
- Agreement among the patient, family, and medical team not to pursue cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
- Passed the household financial assessment:
  - The household financial assessment is primarily based on the income and assets of the applicant and all family members living together.
  - If the combined total of the “assets” and “income in the past 6 months” of the applicant and all family members living together does not exceed the “Household Financial Affordability Limit,” the applicant is eligible for admission.
  - When determining the funding amount, the socio-economic background of the applicant and their immediate family members will also be taken into consideration (information provided by the applicant on a voluntary basis).

The “Household Financial Affordability Limit” is used to assess an applicant’s affordability through the sum of the following two components. While it is a measure of the applicant’s affordability, it does not necessarily reflect the total financial resources available to the applicant. For more details, please contact the social worker.

1. Household Assets Limit (including cash, savings deposits, investments, non-owner-occupied properties, etc.)

- No. of household:
  - 3 family members or below ( Household assets up to limit HK$600,000)
  - 4 family members or below (Household assets up to limit HK$900,000)

2. The government has published information regarding the ceiling on household income for the past six months, which cannot exceed 1.75 times the median household income for that period.

Application Guidelines

After completing the financial assessment with a medical social worker, the applicant should submit the application form along with the “Sandwich Class Beds Programme” referral letter filled out by a doctor to our centre, or;
The applicant should submit the “Sandwich Class Beds Programme” referral letter filled out by a doctor along with relevant medical records to our centre. Our social worker will then conduct a financial assessment for the applicant.

Enquiry :

Phone: (852) 2703 3000
Fax: (852) 2785 0721

Details