286. All in-patient units of the hospital continued to be hard- pressed; the surgical units recorded an increase of some 20% in admis- sions and in major operations compared to 1961. The medical unit again showed a rise in the number of admissions resulting from acute cerebro- vascular accidents which totalled 198 compared to 136 in 1961; only 66 were admitted in 1959,
287. The orthopaedic unit dealt mainly with patients admitted as a result of traffic accidents and industrial injuries; such patients constituted some 60% of the unit's work during the year.
288. The Gynaecological branch of the Obstetrical and Gynaecolo- gical Unit admitted some 70% of its cases as emergencies: 9% of these were ectopic pregnancies and 41% miscarriages or abortions. In Obste- trics, the Caesarian Section rate rose from 635% in the previous year to 8.24% in 1962. The trial of the vacuum extractor instrument was continued and was successfully used in 43 deliveries in place of low forceps.
289. The Paediatric Unit opened a new outpatient session in the Maurine Grantham Health Centre, Tsuen Wan, in September 1962 and. in the same month, the Salvation Army Convalescent Home in Cheung Chau became available. The latter institution has been used particularly for cases of rheumatic fever with heart disease, 23 children with this condition having been sent there for convalescent care during the latter part of the year.
290. Table 30 sets out the work of the Hospital during the past five years.
TABLE 30
KOWLOON HOSPITAL 1958-62
Including Casualty and Outpatient Departmçal
1958
1950
1960
1901
Mauernity Cases
3,472
3.545
4,372
4.749
1952
4,578
General Imputients (excluding
Maternity)
|0,695
Total Outpatient attendances
$58,010
10.341
532,492
16,052 19.459
$47.592 605,654
25.399
596,399
Casualties attended (included in
above figures)
70,191
71,627
80.330
86218
97.244
Operations (excluding minor
ones) Mortality (expressed as
centage of admissions)
и
5.704
6,57
1,584
9.197
11.748
PRE-
6.2
3.5
6.4
6.5
7.5
68
Queen Mary Hospital
291. This hospital on Hong Kong Island is the largest Government acute general hospital in the Colony. Bed accommodation was increased during the year from 601 to 623 beds by an internal re-arrangement of wards, following the removal of tuberculosis cases to the Grantham Hospital.
292. As the University Teaching Hospital of Hong Kong, the Univer- sity Departments of Medicine, Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Paediatrics and Gynaecology, each under the direction of a Professor, carried the clinical responsibility for a total of 323 reaching beds; in addition the Government units in Medicine and Surgery also undertake the training of undergraduates. The other clinical units, comprising Radiology, Thoracic Surgery, Neurosurgery, Anaesthetics, Ophthalmology, Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery and Obstetrics are staffed entirely by Govern- ment medical staff.
293. The large Casualty Department, which is the emergency and accident centre for the whole of Hong Kong Island, deall with 46,589 casualty cases during 1962, this being almost double the number of cases seen in 1960.
294. In-patient admissions continued to rise, with a total of 21,311 patients treated during 1962: an increased provision of temporary ac- commodation in the wards and on verandahs was therefore necessary and a daily average of approximately 120 additional patients, over and above the accepted complement of 623, were under treatment during the year.
295. A Renal Laboratory and Artificial Kidney Unit was inaugurated during the year, following the gift by a private donor of a Travenol Twin Coil Artificial Kidney Apparatus to the University Surgical Unit. Research work was also carried out on the use of intra-arterial infusions of nethotrexate and leucovorin in the treatment of advanced cancerous conditions. This work was supported by grants from the Cancer Inter- national Research Co-operative and. later, by the Li Shu Fan Medical Foundation.
296. Towards the end of 1962 work began on extensions to the hos- pital which will provide some 180 additional beds together with new operating theatre suites, X-ray facilities and improved teaching and research accommodation for the clinical staff of the University Profes- sorial Units.
69