"
3.3. Mental health facilities are to be improved and increased, in addition to those to be provided at the Princess Margaret Hospital as the incidence of psychiatric illness is on the increase. With the increase in numbers of Chinese entering the Colony, the question of the care of geriatric patients is becoming a considerable problem. There is little liklihood of any immediate Government expenditure on the relief of the problem but it must receive serious consideration in the near future. In the meantime, certain of the private elements are moving in this direction. Equally, the extent of interest in terminal care is increasing and there are now firm links between the Alice Nethersole and United Christian Hospitals in Hong Kong and St Christopher's Hospice in SE London. The growing number of drug addicts is also giving concern insofar as it affects both the older and younger age-groups. Throughout, there is a tacit acceptance of the fact that those departments concerned with advanced technology and sophisticated diagnostic equipment will need to update thei. standard of instrumentation in the reasonable future. The equipment concerned could include nucleonics, radio-immunoassay, chromatography, memoryscopes, dialysis, cryosurgery and monitoring in general. Recently there has been renewed interest on the part of heads of departments in what is now available in the world. There are likely also to be developments in the fields of central supply, central laboratory and central laundry services (see Appendix C para 4.1.7.) due primarily to the lack of space and, more recently, labour the cost of which is rising rapidly.
4. PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL (formerly the Lai Chi Kok)
4.1. Progress on this hospital is well-known as it has been reported upon several times, and there is little commercial benefit to be gained by giving a further detailed description and breakdown. One or two details may, however, still be relevant. Mention has been made previously of the possible provision of a burns unit but this now looks as though the shortage of nursing staff in particular, will preclude this for the time being. The hospital itself is likely to be completed on schedule and should have 1,298 patients but there are doubts as to whether the nurses quarters will be finished in time, in which case the departments are likely to come into action by degrees as nurses become available. The psychiatric wing, which will cost HK $64 m. will house. 1,300 patients when completed. Also under construction is the South Kwai Ching Polyclinic which should be open in August 1975 and which will house the consultants' and follow-up clinics - at an anticipated expenditure of HK $7m.
4.2. Much of the discussion at the hospital was taken up with complaints about late deliveries from UK and poor finish of certain items on arrival. The hospital was also concerned with what appeared to be ignorance on the part of both manufacturers and agents of the need to communicate with the purchaser and confirm receipt of order or give some advice note eg some items which had been ordered in September 1973 had been delivered (but only in part) before any advice note was received, and the latter related to the whole consignment! Many of the items referred to in these complaints included equipment for the physiotherapy and theatre service departments and were, at the time of the visit, urgently required in order to set up the relevant departments before the Spring, when the first patients are expected. Subsequent discussions were held with officials of the Government Supplies Department through whom many of the original orders were made, and who agreed to make urgent enquiries. A number of the more serious complaints were dealt with by Telex immediately and two manufacturers were stimulated to take immediate interest, which they did to the great satisfaction of the customer.... surely there is a moral here?
1
4.3. Disappointingly, though perhaps not unexpected, much of the equipment being installed is not of UK manufacture even the beds are to be imported from Australia. The dialysis unit and the whole of the patient monitoring system is American: on the other hand, much of the equipment in the CSSD and TSSU is of UK manufacture.... autoclaves and instrument washing machines (see Mr S M Davies' report of October 1971), as is the paging system.
2