Progress has however been considerably handicapped by difficulties in the recruitment of trained staff.
132. At Castle Peak Hospital the department continued to provide a diverse programme of treatment covering work, recreation and group social activities for a daily average of 950 patients. Visits were made by small groups of patients to neighbouring villages accompanied by members of the staff in civilian dress for the purpose of attempting to bridge the gap between hospital and community. Industrial 'out-work', consisting of contracts with factories, continued as a valuable adjunct to the treatment programme and Government orders for domestic, hospital and office equipment continued to be placed. In the Hong Kong Psychiatric Centre a carefully planned programme of rehabilita- tion was also carried out for patients attending the centre.
133. The occupational therapy sub-department at Yau Ma Tei Psychiatric Centre which was opened in June, 1967, continued its work. Patients treated at this department consist of two main categories, namely, those discharged from Castle Peak Hospital who need a short follow-up in a Day Psychiatric Centre to aid their rehabilitation and those requiring close observation and assessment as out-patients. Patients in the latter group are generally children and young adolescents in the early stages of illness whose pattern of behaviour needs close observation.
134. Work in the Kowloon Jockey Club Rebabilitation Centre followed the same pattern as in the previous years, the aim of treatment being to assist patients to return to their previous employment or, where that is not possible, to an alternative means of livelihood. The ward work in the Kowloon Hospital progressed satisfactorily throughout the year.
135. The Occupational Therapy Units at Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary and Lai Chi Kok Hospitals continued their activities and treal ments given to patients covered orthopaedic, tuberculosis, surgical and medical conditions. The weekly occupational therapy service to the tuberculosis patients at St. John Hospital, Cheung Chau. was dis- continued on 31st January, 1969, due to an acute shortage of profes sional staff.
136. An out-patient department was opened in Wan Chai Polyclinic in April, 1968, and was planned and equipped so as it may function to maximum efficiency in concentrating on the treatment needs of
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patients with upper limb disabilities. The World Rehabilitation Fund Day Centre, Social Welfare Department, was opened in September, 1968. Applicants for admissions to this centre are initially referred to an Occupational Therapist for assessment of mental and physical capacities and suitability for training. Following a period of observa- tion, recommendations are made regarding possible areas of training.
ORTHOPAEDIC AND PROSTHETIC APPLIANCES
137. During the year 2,465 appliances were made and 1,769 patients were treated while approximately 1,004 minor repairs, alterations or checkings were also done. There was an increase in the production of artificial limbs, especially the below-knee prosthesis. The number of new poliomyelitis cases decreased but the old patients are growing up and therefore the demand for long leg brace with knee hinges rose. Work study in the production section has therefore been directed mainly to simplified but effective designs and improved techniques of fabrication of appliances.
198. The training programme for Student Assistant Orthopaedic Appliance Technicians progressed satisfactorily. To suit the Asian conditions and meet the local requirements, a co-ordinated research programme covering various aspects of design and production tech- niques continued during the year. For the first time a locally graduated Appliance Technician was sent to Britain and Europe for post-graduate study and work, and a programme for the post-graduate training of local Appliance Technicians was instituted. This will ensure a continu- ous supply of technical staff for future development.
MEDICAL EXAMINATION BOARD
(See tables 64-65)
139. This section performs medical examinations of new entrants to Government employment and to the Essential Service Corps. The number of persons classified as unfit on account of tuberculosis rose slightly as compared with the previous year but remained markedly lower than in the period 1959 to 1965. Tuberculosis remained the primary reason for non-acceptance of applicants on medical grounds, being responsible for 14 out of the 19 classifications as 'unfit' in each thousand examinations.
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