and selection basis to concentrate more on the purely social work aspect: more time could be spent by Medical Social Workers in hospitals, and the stationing of Medical Social Workers at the Grantham Hospital, Haven of Hope Sanatorium, and at the Ruttonjec Sanatorium has proved successful.
137. During the cholera outbreak, the Medical Social Service extended its activities to contacts of cholera cases at the Chatham Road Quarantine Centre. The inmates at the Centre received re-assurance from the Medical Social Workers who helped to solve the social problems arising from their detention.
138. Medical Social Workers in the hospitals have continued to work with patients and families throughout the period of hospitalization towards the ultimate goal of discharging them back into the community. Preparation work before admission and follow-up service after discharge bas also been maintained. whenever necessary, in particular, in the Tuberculosis Service. Severe residual disabilities, particularly in such conditions as paraplegia and hemiplegia, pose serious problems.
139. In the Mental Health Service the demand for fully-trained Psychiatric Social Workers remains great. The scope of work both at Castle Peak Hospital and the Out-patient Psychiatric Centres widened considerably with the increased need for community care for discharged mental patients. The follow-up of discharged drug addicts from Castle Peak Hospital was continued.
140. In the Leprosy Service methods of rehabilitation remain the same and co-operation with the Hay Ling Chau Leprosarium was maintained. The housing of leprosy patients, the employment of cured persons and their integration into the community remained important problems. In the fields of venereal diseases and dermatology, long inter- views with patients were needed to release tensions and uncover hidden anxieties which play an important part in some dermatological con- ditions. In other specialist sections, such as ophthalmology, the Medical Social Workers worked on the referral system, and constantly pruned their activities in order to obtain the best possible results.
141. In staff training two Medical Social Workers returned from training overseas. In-service training was provided as before for new recruits. Full use is made of appropriate extra mural courses designed for the training of social workers. Medical Social Workers continued to give lectures to students in training, in nursing, physiotherapy and medicine, to cultivate an inter-disciplinary approach.
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142.
PHYSIOTHERAPY
(Table 61)
Demand for physiotherapy services continues to rise and there was increasing concentration on education and training of the handi- capped in re-adapting themselves to day-to-day activities. The physio- therapy unit at Queen Mary Hospital has continued to treat those patients transferred to the Sandy Bay Convalescent Hospital, and the Wan Chai Polyclinic now supplies a number of staff for Tang Shiu Kin Hospital.
143. Though the number of poliomyelitis patients requiring follow- up care has decreased, the number of new poliomyelitis patients treated was higher than the previous year, 15 new cases being referred. While the greatest amount of the physiotherapists time is spent with orthopaedic and surgical cases of all kinds, the department also deals with cerebral palsy cases referred to it by the paediatric unit.
144. The physiotherapy training school had 24 students under training at the end of the year under review. Many outside hospitals and institutions are showing an interest in having young people trained, and during the year 3 candidates from outside institutions were accepted for training.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
(Table 621
145. The demand for occupational therapy services has continued and the treatment numbers again show an increase in the units which have had adequate professional staff coverage. Progress has been con- siderably handicapped by difficulties in the recruitment of trained staff; however six students are already undergoing training overseas and a further two candidates were selected during the year under review.
146. 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 with the aim of bridging the gap between hospital and community. Industrial 'out-work', consisting of contracts with factories, continued as a valuable adjunct to the treal- ment programme, and domestic, hospital and office equipment con- tinued to be produced to meet Government Supplies Department orders.
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