number of individuals cxamined declined by 2.8%. These decreases are explained by the mass chest X-ray survey of illegal immigrants which had been carried out during the summer of 1962.
356. The opening of the Tang Shiu Kin Survey Centre in May, 1963, provided a headquarters for all mass chest radiographic survey units on Hong Kong Island, whether mobile or static.
357. The radiodiagnostic section of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Institute of Radiology was brought into operation at the end of November, 1963. It is equipped with most modern radiological machinery, including automatic film processing and drying units.
Radiotherapy Branch
358. Facilities for deep X-ray, telecobalt, radium and radioisotope therapy, and also for diagnosis using radioisotopes, are provided at the Queen Mary Hospital, which was the headquarters of this branch. I also operates a service, mainly for superficial and contact X-ray therapy, at the Jockey Club Clinic, Sai Ying Pun.
Due to the shortage of beds at the Queen Mary Hospital, hostel accommodation has been provided at the Oxfam Hostel, Victoria Road, for some of the poorer patients receiving radiotherapy at the Queen Mary Hospital who live at considerable distances from the hospital. This hostel is run by the Catholic social welfare organization-Caritas. but free transportation between the hostel and the Queen Mary Hospital is provided by Government.
360. By the end of the year under review the radiotherapeutic section of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Institute of Radiology was nearing completion. This Institute contains two linear accelerators and a betatron and will provide the Colony with most modern facilities for radiotherapy. 361. A comparison of the work done during 1962 and 1963 is shown in Table 48.
TABLE 48
WORK OF THE RADIOTHERAPY BRANCH 1962-63
1962
1963
New patients seen
1,564
1,566
P
-
New patients with malignant disease seen New patients with non-malignant disease seen. Parients treated...
1,089
1,121
473
445
IT
1,792
1,830
F
New patients treated
44
--
1,236
1,245
JLI
Old patients treated Patients with malignant disease treated
New patients with malignant disease treated Old patients with malignant disease treated Patients with non-malignant disease treated
3
Deep radiotherapy treatment CX-ray & Telecobalt)....... Contact & superficial radiotherapy treatments
1962
1963
556
585
10
។
1.366
1,452
935
974
431
478
426
378
41,090
47,211
A
1.385
606
TYR
Radium, radiocobalt, radiostrontium & radiogold
applications Radioiodine for thyrotoxicosis fcourses of treatment) Radioiodine for carcinoma of thyroid (courses of
196
186
TAN
163
228
rrt
Irealment) Radioiodine for thyroid function tests
2
7
My
107
272
563
Radioiodine for scanning of whole body for
metastases
6
20
12
583
Radioiodine for scanning of neck only
Physics Branch and Workshop Section
*
362. As in previous years this section, which is under the immediate direction of the Senior Physicist, has played an important part in the routine work of the Radiotherapy Branch, and has assisted in the training of radiologists and radiographers. Its other functions consist of operating a radiation protection service for the Radiological Service and of giving advice and assistance to other Government departments in matters connected with radiation hazards and protection. The workshop section undertakes the maintenance, repair and calibration of all the radiological and physics equipment in the Department. It produced many spare parts during the year, as well as electronic instruments and other devices designed to improve certain radiological techniques and the working efficiency of the Radioisotope Laboratory. This section has also been largely responsible for the installation and commissioning of radiological equip- ment in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Institute of Radiology.
Clinicul Photography Service
363. This service, established in 1958, is staffed with two medical photographers. In addition to routine photographic work, this section undertakes the teaching of basic principles of clinical photography to student assistant radiographers.
82
83