HEALTH
Other important projects which are well underway include improvement and extension of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Yau Ma Tei and the Yan Chai Hospital in Tsuen Wan.
Projects in the pipeline include further extensions to the United Christian Hospital, the relocation of Nethersole Hospital to Tai Po, and the construction of an additional 1 760 infirmary beds in projects such as Tai Po Infirmary and Convalescent Hospitals.
Clinics
General out-patient services form a vital part of the health care system. The government now operates 66 general out-patient clinics. Evening, Sunday and public holiday sessions continue at clinics in the more densely-populated areas as part of the overall measures to meet the demand for out-patient services. Total attendance at government out-patient clinics was 21 million. The medical development programme includes 13 additional clinic and polyclinic projects throughout the territory.
Mobile dispensaries and floating clinics provide the necessary medical services to the more remote areas of the New Territories and outlying islands. Other inaccessible areas are visited regularly by the 'flying doctor' service, with the assistance of the Auxiliary Air Force.
At the end of the year, 93 clinics operated by charity organisations were registered under the Medical Clinics Ordinance. At the same time, 152 were registered as exempted clinics. Registered medical practitioners of the Estate Doctors' Association set up clinics in housing estates to provide a low-cost service for residents. Private medical practitioners continued to attend to the majority of out-patients.
Family Health
The Family Health Services of the Department of Health operate 45 maternal and child health centres, providing a comprehensive health programme for women of child-bearing age and children aged up to five years. Ante-natal and post-natal medical consultation as well as family planning services are offered to women. Immunisation programmes are carried out against tuberculosis, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, poliomyelitis, measles, mumps, rubella and viral hepatitis B. During the year, about 90 per cent of newborn babies attended the maternal and child health centres.
Under the Comprehensive Observation Scheme, children are assessed at different ages for the detection of early developmental abnormalities. If necessary, they are referred to specialist clinics or to child assessment centres for further examination.
At present, there are five child assessment centres (four government centres and one government-assisted centre). These centres adopt a multi-disciplinary approach which ensures early rehabilitation for the child. Three more centres have been included in the Department of Health's development programme.
Health education is an essential component of the Family Health Services. In addition to health talks and counselling on child care at centres, health education for expectant mothers is extended to government hospitals, with emphasis on the promotion of breast- feeding. A telephone service is available to answer enquiries from the public.
The government-subvented Family Planning Association of Hong Kong runs 26 birth control clinics, providing such services as pre-marital counselling, contraception, sterilisa- tion, vasectomy and advice on sub-fertility. There is also emphasis on health education and publicity on family planning and sex education.
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