HOSPITAL MAINTENANCE AND SUPPLY
139. As a result of the continued development of the services pro- vided in medical institutions operated by the Medical and Health Department, coupled with further increases in the demands upon them, the administration and supply of the hospital service becomes increas- ingly complex.
140. As in previous years, the Central Laundry has been kept under continuous review, particularly with reference to its future requirements and its relationship with other essential service departments. Further investigations into the use of disposable items have been undertaken with a view to reducing the work-load on the already overloaded service. However, the conclusions reached still confirm that disposable products are not yet an economic proposition in Hong Kong. Work on the new Shau Kei Wan Laundry is proceeding, and it is hoped that this new Unit will be in operation early next year thus easing the load on the existing Laundry at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Investigations indicate that owing to the continued expansion of the Department's activities a third laundry will eventually be required, and steps are being taken to find a suitable site for this.
141. Efforts to promote harmonious staff relations have continued during the year under review, The Joint Consultative Committee of Kowloon Hospital is proving a success, and it is hoped that further Joint Consultative Committees will be established in the near future. Proposals for the reorganization of the Medical and Health Department Staff Welfare Association have been approved, and the Association is now known as the Medical and Health Department Staff Society. Approval is also being sought for the appointment of a full-time Welfare Officer, and it is hoped to conduct a membership recruiting campaign shortly in order to encourage greater staff participation in the staff Society,
142. The design and types of special and standard items of hospital equipment in use have been kept under review, so as to achieve some standardization between one unit and another and ensure greater efficiency and economy.
AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICE
143. This branch of the Essential Services Corps has a strength of over 5,400 men and women-2,000 of whom are under 25 years of age-trained to augment the Colony's medical services during any
40
emergency. Approximately half the strength is used to make up the Ambulance Depot teams, which are dispersed throughout the Colony and are affiliated to the nearest Fire Stations (Ambulance Service). These ambulance depot teams are trained to reinforce the regular ambulance service, to provide mobile first aid parties and light rescue teams, especially in the New Territories and on the islands.
144. Members of the Service who are assigned for emergency duties in Medical Establishments carry out training annually in one of the major hospitals. Members who are assigned to reinforce the Ambulance Service perform duties with the latter service al weekends and on public holidays. There are also over 250 members, male and female, who are trained as life-savers, and who reinforce the regular life guards on the beaches at weekends and on public holidays,
145. Members attended at the scenes of large fires throughout the Colony during the year. They assisted in the distribution of anti- narcotics leaflets, during the anti-parcotics campaign in November 1970, in resettlement estates, at cinemas and theatres, at playgrounds, at markets and at ferry plers, besides showing films at selected secondary schools.
146. The Band of the AMS has performed on a number of occasions in public, at Medical Department functions, and gave concerts at Christmas 1970 at seven of the Colony's major hospitals.
REGISTRATION OF MEDICAL CLINICS
(Table 69)
147. In accordance with the Medical Clinics Ordinance, Chapter 343, all clinics were required to be re-registered annually. On 31st March, 1971, there were 75 registered static clinics and 3 registered mobile clinics in the charge of registered medical practitioners, and 350 clinics registered with exemption, making a total of 428.
148. The Low Cost Medical Care Scheme under which static clinics are set up in Resettlement and Housing Estates continued to operate throughout the year, the aim being to provide one doctor for every 6,000 residents, with priority given to registered medical practitioners. At the end of the year under review there were 62 clinics in Reselde- ment Estates and 14 in Housing Estates operated by registered doctors. In addition there were 34 clinics in Resettlement Estates and 2 clinics in Housing Estates which were registered with exemption.
41
I