GOVERNMENT-ASSISTED HOSPITALS (Tables 70-73)
149. Financial assistance mainly by means of an annual subven- tion is given by Government to certain voluntary organization main- taining hospitals in the Colony. Such hospitals, containing a total of 7,533 beds, provide mainly sub-acute general beds or facilities for persons suffering from certain specific diseases or handicaps. The total Government subvention to these bospitals during the year was $62,081,016 recurrent and $1,065,719 special expenditure.
THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS
150. The Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, which celebrated the 100th Anniversary of its founding this year, is a long-established Chinese charitable organization, and is managed by a Board of Directors elected annually. During recent years a programme of modemization and expansion has been undertaken with assistance from Government in terms of personnel, especially medical officer and consultant services, money and material, the subvention amounting to $34,891,431.
151. Construction work of the 12-storey Centenary Block in Tung Wah Hospital started in July 1970 and is expected to be completed at the end of 1972. The building will have 424 beds, with a new out-patient department, a new casualty department, X-Ray facilities, new operating theatres, and additional quarters for 50 nurses.
152. The Casualty Department at Kwong Wah Hospital handles all accident cases taking place between Waterloo Road and Lai Chi Kok Road. A large number of patients was referred to it by Govern- ment clinics both in Kowloon and in the New Territories. As a result this department dealt with cases not only from the northern part of the Kowloon peninsula but also from other areas. A police post bas been established to deal with medico-legal cases, and an industrial nurse from the Labour Department attends to advise in cases of industrial accidents. An officer from the Fire Services Department was also posted to the casualty department to handle the ambulance services.
153. A new modern and well-equipped Dental Clinic in Kwong Wah Hospital was established and opened for use in February 1971 to serve all staff working for the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals.
154. The development of Wong Tai Sin Infirmary Phases II and III was completed. There are altogether 681 beds, 185 of them allocated
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to the Government tuberculosis service. Patients for long-term treal- ment are transferred to the Infirmary from Queen Elizabeth Hospital or from Kwong Wah Hospital. There are also 503 beds in the Tung Wah Sandy Bay Convalescent Hospital for the treatment of chronic paticats. However, the provision of a total of 1,184 beds for long-term patients under the management of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals is still not sufficient to meet the demand for more chronic beds for the Colony.
THE ALICE HO MIU LING NETHERSOLE HOSPITAL
155. This hospital, supported by the London Missionary Society. received a Government subvention of $3,799,879 during the year. The hospital has been considerably modernized in recent years and its facilities greatly improved.
156. During the year the three gynaecology operating theatres and associated rooms were extensively remodelled and modemized; the cost was partly met by a capital subvention from Government. The changes have been welcomed by both patients and staff. The X-Ray department, over-burdened with increasing work, received a capital subvention from Government to add a diagnostic X-Ray unit and table, This has been installed and has markedly reduced the waiting lists.
POK OF HOSPITAL
157. 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
158. This hospital of 850 beds, erected with the aid of donations from Roman Catholic communities in many parts of the world, in particular the Federal Republic of Germany, and maintained partly with the aid of a Government subvention of $3,700,000, 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 general, 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
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