Voluntary mental health organizations
142.
The New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, with the close co-operation of the mental health service, operates the New Life Rehabilitation Farm adjacent to the Castle Peak Hospital for the benefit of patients requiring a period of orientation before returning to full social and economic activity in the community, The Association also owns two half-way houses for both men and women, and a sheltered workshop for selected discharged patients from the Castle Peak Hospital. The Mental Health Association continued to perform a useful function of bridging the gap between the service and the community in 1973. The Irene House, a half-way hostel run by the Association for short-stay discharged patients from the Castle Peak Hospital, could accommodate 32 patients at a time.
Drug Addiction
143-
The department maintained close liaison with and served in the Action Committee Against Narcotics which was reconstituted as a permanent non-statutory body with new composition and revised terms of reference. A special treatment and research division to be headed by an Assistant Director was formed to undertake various activities in the treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts, and research and health education in the dangers of drug addiction.
144.
The Pilot Methadone Study Centre, set up in 1972 in Eastern Street, Sai Ying Pun, in the old premises of the former Mental Hospital, continued its operation into the second year. The government made available more than $2 million for a study to last three years, covering an estimated 1,550 addicts, who are being treated free, and who are volunteers.
145.
Ten beds were made available. The procedure lays down that a patient should be treated for withdrawal symptoms for about a week, depending on the individual. As soon as withdrawal signs occur, the patient is given 20 mg of methadone diluted in a mixture of orange juice. The intake is once a day, with the dosage increasing by 10 mg a day until a maximum of 40 mg is reached on the fifth day. When the final dosage is found to be adequate to relieve the patient's craving for 36 hours, he is discharged, and then encouraged to return to the Centre every day for his daily dose of methadone taken in the orange cordial. The procedure also requires the regular testing of urine for the detection of morphine, heroin, or opium.
146.
In the first 16 months of the programme, 956 patients were Difficulties resulting from their addiction, such as medical, social and psychological problems, were dealt with.
treated.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES HOSPITALS
147.
There are two hospitals which admit patients suffering frOM infectious diseases the Sai Ying Pun Hospital on Hong Kong Island, and the Lai Chi Kok Hospital in Kowloon. The latter also provides some accommodation for convalescent cases from the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth hospitals. The two infectious diseases hospitals will soon be replaced by the 162-bed Infectious Diseases Block of the Princess Margaret Hospital, to be opened in early 1975.
148.
While the overall trend was towards a reduction in incidences of infectious diseases, food and water-borne diseases, namely, typhoid and the dysenteries, and to some extent viral hepatitis, still accounted for a significant number of cases of notifiable diseases. (See Table 14)
149.
TANG SHIU KIN HOSPITAL
Tang Shiu Kin Hospital, built with a substantial donation from Sir Shiu-kin Tang, is situated at Morrison Hill, Hong Kong. Opened in 1969, it replaced the former Eastern Public Dispensary and Maternity Home, the Harcourt Health Centre, and the Wan Chai Social Hygiene Female Clinic. 150.
The hospital is equipped with a casualty department and a casualty ward for 40 patients. It has a general out-patient department, a maternal and child health centre with a part-time family planning clinic, a 36-bed maternity ward, a social hygiene clinic, a special skin clinic and a part-time obstetrical and gynaecological clinic.
151.
The hospital also houses the head office of the Maternal and Child Health Services and a training school for health visitors and health auxiliaries. Quarters are available for medical and nursing staff. Since its opening, the hospital has played a useful role in providing casualty and emergency services for the eastern part of the Island.
152.
FANLING HOSPITAL
This hospital, previously administered by the Lutheran World Federation, was taken over by Government from 1st April, 1973. It is situated in the Fanling area of the New Territories and has 54 beds. In addition to the provision of an in-patient service for general cases, the hospital also operates an out-patient clinic for residents in the Fanling district. It is intended to improve and develop it into a small district hospital for this area.
153.
OTHER GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS
Other hospitals maintained by the Government are the St. John Hospital, serving the Island of Cheung Chau and neighbouring islands of the western sea-board; the South Lantau Hospital, serving villages on the south- west coast of Lantau Island; and six hospitals within compounds at Stanley Prison, Victoria Prison, the Tai Lam Centre for Women, the Tai Lam Addiction Treatment Centre, the Ma Po Ping Addiction Treatment Centre and the Chi Ma Wan Prison.
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