medical conditions. The weekly occupational therapy service to the tuberculosis patients at St. John Hospital, Cheung Chau continued during the year.
ORTHOPAEDIC AND PROSTHETIC APPLIANCES
135. The production of appliances continued to increase and 2.350 appliances were made during the year compared with 2,018 in the previous year. The research and development programme continued to make satisfactory progress, und some technical developments completed during the year include hip joint for hip disarticulation prostheses, a jig for accurate location of the hip joint, the use of polyurethane foam for the production of parts for artificial limbs and a non-articulated rubber foot.
136. The training programme for student technicians continued and during the year one student was awarded the diploma of Orthopaedic Technician and two others have passed their examinations for Associate- ship of the Institute of British Surgical Technicians.
MEDICAL EXAMINATION BOARD
(See tables 65-66)
137. This section performs medical examinations of new entrants to Government employment and to the Essential Service Corps. Although the numbers of persons classified us unfit on account of tuberculosis continued to fall, that disease remained the primary reason for non- acceptance of applicants on medical grounds, being responsible for twenty-three out of the twenty-eight classifications as 'unfit' in each thousand examinations.
HOSPITAL MAINTENANCE AND SUPPLY
138. This section, which is responsible for the routine supply and lay administration of medical institutions, experienced continued staffing difficulties during the year. Not only was difficulty encountered in re- cruiting experienced Hospital Secretaries but the wastage rate among male minor staff remained high.
139. Provision of transport services continued to present problems, particularly when routine requirements were augmented by the need for additional vehicles during mass immunization campaigns. The Depart- mental Central Laundry has overcome its teething troubles and is work-
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ing to a high degree of efficiency. The former lack of balance in the major plant has been partly overcome by installation of some additional machinery but until the remainder of the additional machinery recently approved has been installed, there will continue to be some imbalance, due to the continued increase in the quantities of linen requiring to be processed, which is the result of the opening of new institutions and more rapid bed turnover.
140. Castle Peak Hospital continued to experience minor difficullies with interruptions in water. electricity and telephone services, but they have been somewhat less than in previous years and a steady improve- meat can be expected.
141. The Staff Welfare Association recorded a satisfactory year despite paucity of members. In addition to maintaining various welfare schemes and educational facilities to aid members and their families, the Association was active in a number of sporting events, although these were fewer in number than in former years. Individual institutions. notably Castle Peak and Kowloon Hospitals, have carried out a varied programme of sporting and social activities.
142. The UNICEF sponsored milk feeding programme continued throughout the year, a total of 79,030 lbs. of milk powder was dis- tributed to the various feeding centres of both Government and voluntary agencies throughout the Colony.
AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICE
143. This branch of the Essential Services Corps has a strength of over 5,100 men and women trained to augment the Colony's medical services during an emergency. Approximately half of the strength is used to make up the Ambulance Depot Teams which are based on the Fire Brigade's Ambulance Stations throughout the Colony. These Ambulance Depot Teams are trained to reinforce the Fire Services Ambulance Service and to provide mobile first aid teams as necessary.
144. Members of the Service carry out training on Sunday mornings and during the evenings. They also perform routine ambulance duty with the Fire Brigade Ambulance Service by rotation at week-ends and Public Holidays.
145. During the flooding in June 1966 members of the Service were called upon to render assistance, and they also attended at a number of fires in Hong Kong and Kowloon during the year.
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