Radiotherapy
343. This section is at present entirely based in the Queen Mary Hospital but serves patients from throughout the Colony. Whereas 10 years ago it had only one deep X-ray machine, five obsolete radium needles, and a small amount of radiocobalt, there are now two deep X-ray machines. a 60-curie telecobalt service, a contact X-ray therapy machine, a large stock of radium needles and tubes. radio cobalt tubes. two implantation guns for radiogold grain implantation and other facilities for the use of radio-isotopes in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.
344. During 1950, only 31 malignant and 48 benign conditions were treated. In 1959 treatment was given to 1,113 patients of whom 901 were new cases: 893 cases of cancer were treated of whom 684 were new cases. There were 348 cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. 152 cases of cancer of the cervix and 134 cases of cancer of the breast. There were 220 benign conditions treated of which 180 were skin conditions. Radio-iodine tracer studies were carried out on 23 patients.
345. Because of the shortage of beds the majority of these cancer patients were treated as outpatients. There was a total of 11,865 attendances of which 852 attended the clinic for gynaecological condi- tions conducted by a team of Government radiotherapists and University gynaecologists.
Medical Physics
346. Established in 1956, this is now an essential branch of the Radiological Service. It assists in the physical aspect of planning radiation treatment, operates a radio protection service, assists in the development of new or improved radiological techniques, undertakes the teaching of radiological physics, calibrates the various irradiating machines at regular intervals, prepares radium or radiocobalt sources for application and maintains a workshop.
347. During the year the physicists took part in 975 X-ray or telecobalt plannings, made 198 plaster casts with wax seatings for the positioning of beam applicators and 88 plaster strip casts. In addition to maintaining full records of monitoring carried out in conjunction with the radio protection service. the branch gave advice to both Government and non-Government organizations on problems related to radiation hazards and protection.
348. Two important researches were conducted into the determina- tion by actual measurement of the radiation doses received by the lenses
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of the eyes and the nasopharynx during a radical course of deep therapy.
349. Much work was done by the workshop in the maintenance and repair of radiological equipment, the assembly and installation of new equipment, the production of spare parts and of gadgets required for the development of new techniques. This has resulted not only in more efficient work but has effected considerable economics in operating Cosis.
OPHTHALMOLOGY
350. There are two full-time mujor ophthalmic centres one at Arran Street in Kowloon and the other at the Violet Peel Polyclinic on Hong Kong Island. From these centres, ophthalmic teams hold 75 out-patient sessions cach month at 14 part-time centres situated throughout Hong Kong. Kowloon and the New Territories. There are three 'sight saving' refraction centres and an optical workshop for participants in the School Health Service. Eleven Ophthalmic beds are available in Government Hospitals for the treatment of out-patients. An extension to the Service during the year is the British Red Cross Society Mobile Ophthalmic Unit. based at Arran Street, which pays a regular schedule of visits to centres in the New Territories. Donated to the Hong Kong Branch of the Red Cross Society by Mr. Tang Shiu-kin, C.B.E., it is maintained by the Branch, the professional staff of the Unit being provided by the Ophthalmic Service. It has been in operation since June 1959.
351. There were altogether 161,302 out-patient attendances of which 73.846 were new cases. This constitutes an increase of 26% above the 1958 figures. The optical workshop issued 2.702 new pairs of spectacles and replaced lenses in a further 435 instances. Treatment was given to 440 in-patients and 4.787 operations performed of which 1,424 were classified as major operations. The major part of the operative work is carried out in the theatres of the ophthalmic clinics and, with the services of two Health Visitors and two Almoners available, the risk of post-operative complications is little different between in-patient and out-patient surgery.
352. The Health Visitors paid 2.562 home visits and gave 4,389 health talks to new patients. The Almoners interviewed 20,868 persons and compiled 2,770 detailed case records; 480 patients who sustained industrial cyc injuries were referred to the Labour Department and 435 new cases of blindness were referred to the Social Welfare Department for registration and rehabilitation.
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