China hospitals implement specialized 24-hour fish bone clinics

Major general hospitals in large Chinese cities, including Nanjing, Chongqing, Wuhan, Hangzhou, and Shanghai, have implemented a specialized service model known as ‘24-hour Fish Bone Clinics’. Rather than requiring patients to wait in general emergency departments, ENT departments have established dedicated stations to treat swallowed fish bones.

This service utilizes specialized equipment such as soft endoscopes and sterile rooms to handle complications like esophageal perforation. The process is streamlined to allow doctors to treat superficial cases in 2 to 10 minutes.

Data indicates significant demand for this specialized service. BenQ Nanjing Hospital has treated tens of thousands of patients since implementing the signage in 2019, while Hangzhou People's Hospital No. 1 has recorded over 30,000 cases. On average, these clinics receive 10 to 20 patients per night, with numbers rising during peak holiday seasons.