full-time chest clinic. At the chest clinics these workers also assist with reception and documentation duties so that there is a continuing per- sonal contact with the patients both at home and in the clinic, which promotes confidence.
159. The Tuberculosis Workers are recruited from girls of good education and intelligence and are given in-service training for a period of 6 to 12 months before being allocated to their districts. They are not fully-trained nurses nor are they trained social workers.
Assistance to Patients
160. There is a Tuberculosis Assistance Fund available to the Senior Tuberculosis Almoner which amounted to $300,000 in 1962. Assistance to the dependants of patients under treatment in hospital is the principal object and disbursements are made on a formula based on previous family income and the continuing family commitments. During the year 280 families received an average weekly grant of $26.38, as compared to $24.61 in 1961. In addition, milk powder issued on the basis of one pound cach week to each patient was a charge on the fund. Miscel- laneous disbursements such as travelling expenses of patients coming from outlying districts for X-ray were also made from the Fund. Surgical appliances for cases of orthopaedic tuberculosis were given to 93 patients at a cost of $6,964, of which $3,947 came from the Assistance Fund, the remainder being subscribed either by the patient or by voluntary agencies.
161. Another source of assistance is the Samaritan Fund at the dis- posal of the Principal Almoner. A total of $3,416.20 was given for travel- ling expenses such as are incurred by orthopaedic cases attending clinics. 162. Donations in kind of rice, noodles, cooking fat, beans, clothing and blankets were also made possible through the generosity of C.A.R.E. 163. When it is not possible or expedient to assist patients from the resources available to the Tuberculosis Service they may be referred to other agencies such as the Social Welfare Department, the Family Welfare Society, Foster Parents Inc., and many other similar organiza- tions. A total of 283 patients were thus referred to other welfare agencies for assistance.
Rehabilitation
164. Ambulatory treatment for the majority of patients who attend the Government Clinics means that the greatest number can continue at work, or spend relatively short periods in hospital before returning to
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their jobs. However, there is a considerable proportion of patients, in the 40-45 age group, of unskilled workers with chronic disease who have undergone thoracic surgery and who present a difficult re-employment problem. The Lutheran World Federation operates a rehabilitation scheme whereby patients recommended by organizations dealing with the treatment of tuberculosis are rescued either in agriculture, in small home industries or in other suitable employment. The total number of patients referred during the year to the Lutheran Tuberculosis Project was 56, as compared to 58 in 1961. There is very close consultation and co- ordination with the Government staff by the personnel of this project which offers every promise of success and a much wider field of con- structive rehabilitation.
Hospital Services
165. The magnitude of the Tuberculosis problem in Hong Kong is such that it is not physically possible to segregate and treat in hospital all cases of active open tuberculosis. The place of ambulatory chemo- therapy, recently assessed on a scientific basis in Madras, has proved itself in practice over the past ten years in Hong Kong. However, hospital beds are necessary to any systern of control and treatment and they play an essential role in Hong Kong. While Government has established and developed outpatient facilities on a major scale, the provision of hospital services has been predominantly the role of the voluntary agencies largely subsidized by Government. Thanks to the practical co-operation of the voluntary agencies, a co-ordinated system of hospitalization has been developed over the years.
166. During 1962 there were 1,748 beds set aside full time for the inpatient treatment of tuberculosis, $2% of which are in the two tuber- culosis hospitals and the convalescent home maintained by the Hong Kong Anti-Tuberculosis Association. The other institution dealing exclusively with tuberculosis is the Haven of Hope Sanatorium at Junk Bay in the New Territories.
167. Beds for tuberculosis in Government Hospitals are in the Lai Chi Kok and Cheung Chau Hospitals. During 1962 there were 72 beds at Lai Chi Kok Hospital and 42 beds at Cheung Chau Hospital. The latter are used largely for young adolescents with positive sputum who have to be debarred from school until they are sputum negative. The Tung Wah Group of Hospitals maintains tuberculosis beds mainly for patients with disease of long standing.
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