attends to advise in cases of industrial accidents. As from July 1969, an officer from the Fire Services Department was posted to the casualty department to handle the ambulance service.
167. The need for subsidiary beds for long-term patients was stressed in the Medical Development Plan and the Group's programme of development has been directed towards the provision of these. Phases II and III of the Wong Tai Sin Infirmary were completed in March 1969, and immediately commissioned and brought into use. They provide an additional 450 beds for long-term patients.
THE ALICE HO MIU LING NETHERSOLE HOSPITAL
168. This bospital, supported by the London Missionary Society, received a Government subvention of $3,481,400 during the year. The hospital has been considerably modernized in recent years and its facilities greatly improved. Features now provided in the hospital include a central sterile supply department, a central milk kitchen, an intensive care unit and a new laundry. Several departments, including pharmacy, radiology, blood bank and haematology, laboratory, operating theatres, and casualty and ward units have been re-modelled or rebuilt.
169. During the year a Medical Social Work Department was inaugurated, not only to render financial assistance to patients, but also to assist in solving social problems arising from admission to or dis- charge from hospital. A small Physiotherapy Department was equipped. and staffed by two part-time physiotherapists. The Nurses' Training School was extended by the addition of a classroom, a practical room, a library and offices.
POK OF HOSPITAL
170. This charitable hospital at Yuen Long in the New Territories continued to serve the population in Yuen Long and its surrounding areas. The hospital's programme of modest expansion progressed satisfactorily and new projects included the construction of minor staff quarters, a kitchen and a mortuary.
CARITAS MEDICAL CENTRE
171. This hospital of 850 beds, erected with the aid of donations from Roman Catholic Communities in many parts of the world, in particular from the Federal Republic of Germany, and maintained partly
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with the aid of a Government subvention of $3,429,306 is situated in the densely populated district of So Uk in north-west Kowloon. It is administered by the Canossian Sisters and comprises blocks for gederal, tuberculosis and cancer patients, as well as quarters for staff and a nurses training school. The hospital continued to play an active part in the provision of medical services in the Colony. During the year an improved centralized laboratory service in the hospital was com- missioned and an east wing in the maternity and paediatric block brought into uNO,
HONG KONG ANTI-TUBERCULOSIS AND THORACIC DISEASES ASSOCIATION
172. This Association, in its three institutions, the Grantham Hospital, the Rutionjce Sanatorium, and the Freni Memorial Con- valescent Home, provides the great majority of beds available for the treatment of tuberculosis and a close liaison is maintained with the Government Chest Service.
The Grantham Hospital (Table 67)
173. This hospital of 619 beds is equipped as a modern chest hospital and is administered by the Grantham Hospital Management Board on a fee-paying, non-profit making basis. Government maintains 610 of the beds but all staff of the hospital is provided by the Associa- tion, with the exception of Government Medical Officers posted to the Government Clinical Units, which are directly responsible for 212 of the beds.
174. Closed heart surgery became available in 1967 and open heart surgery became possible in 1968. The Cardiac Surgery Unit is operated in conjunction with the Professorial Medical and Surgical Departments at the University of Hong Kong.
Ruttonjee Sangtorium and Freni Memorial Convalescent Hone
(Table 68)
175. The Ruttonjce Sanatorium and its annex, the Freni Memorial Convalescent Home, together accommodate 360 patients suffering from tuberculosis and other chest diseases. The Sanatorium also operates a Follow-up Clinic and a B.C.G. Centre. They are supported by voluntary contributions and by a subvention from Government amounting to $2,363,400 in the year under review.
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