179.
The work in out-patient departments was limited by a shortage of physiotherapists. However improvement in the treatment of brain damaged children was made by a Bobath technique trained physiotherpist who is also teaching the parents home care: some assistance was given to children under the care of the Spastics Association of Hong Kong and Save the Children Fund.
180.
There was an increase in the numbers of industrial hand injuries treated, mainly in Kowloon: Kowloon Rehabilitation Centre and Queen Elizabeth Hospital Out-patients Unit frequently treated at least seventy patients in this category each, at any given time.
181.
During the year, 56,170 patients were given 554,203 treatments by an average of fifty physiotherapists on duty in the eight units concerned. There is an obvious need to increase the mumber of staff in order that improved assessments can be made and more individual care given to hasten the patients' return, where possible, to normal life. Staggered hours are also needed but this, too, is not possible due to shortage of staff.
182.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
During the year, the occupational therapy sub-department reached full strength with the appointment of four overseas officers, and the return of two scholarship graduates from the Dorset House School of Occupational Therapy in the United Kingdom.
183.
J
there Other-
There was an increased demand for occupational therapy services in many of the government hospitals and out-patient centres are now eleven occupational therapy units within the sub-department. wise, treatment in 1973 followed the same pattern as in previous years, with the same aim in view to assist patients to return to their previous employment, or to an alternative form of livelihood.
184.
The occupational therapy units in the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth Hospitals continued with the treatment of in-patients. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital also has a regular attendance of out-patients. The Lai Chi Kok Hospital occupational therapy unit remained closed throughout the entire period under review because of an acute staff shortage. The Wanchai Polyclinic unit continued to function to the maximum, despite its physical limitations and location, and these together prevented further expansion of the service offered.
185.
The occupational therapy unit continued to provide a diverse programme of progressive treatment in the Castle Peak Hospital covering work, recreation and group-social activities. The Hong Kong Paychiatric Centre and the Yau Ma Tei Mental Health Centre contimed to provide a treatment programme for out-patients, including selected patients from the Castle Peak Hospital. For the latter, a short follow-up period was necessary, and the same was also true for those receiving other forms of therapy referred for observation prior to assessment for future employment.
PROSTHETIC-ORTHOTIC SERVICE
186.
The prosthetic-orthotic service provides modern artificial limbs and orthopaedic appliances for the public and for in-patients of government and government-assisted hospitals. The demand for prosthetic- orthotic service continued to rise as a result of increased industrial and traffic accidents. Though the number of new poliomyelitis patients requiring orthopaedic appliances decreased, the old poliomyelitis patients vere growing up, and so the demand for medium and large sizes of long leg-braces with knee- hinges increased.
187.
To ensure that the artifical limbs available in Hong Kong were the best possible, and that the method of fabrication and limb-fitting kept abreast of developments, research is being carried out in the service to find the best materials suited to local needs.
188.
The main research and development undertaken during the year included: 1) the dynamic splint for the correction of club-foot deformities, ii) new techniques for fitting and manufacturing below-knee prosthesis, and iii) improved design of all walking aids.
189.
MEDICAL EXAMINATION BOARD
This section carries out medical examinations of new entrants
The to the civil service and certain units of the Essential Services Corps. number of persons classified as unfit, on account of tuberculosis decreased considerably in 1973 when compared with the previous year. Tuberculosis remained the primary reason for non-acceptance of applicants on medical grounds, being responsible for six out of the 10 classified as 'unfit' in each 1,000 examinations. The Medical Examination Board is nov located in the Canton Road government offices.
190.
HOSPITAL MAINTENANCE AND SUPPLY
The development of the services provided in medical institutions operated by the Hedical & Health Department continued during the year to make the administration and supply of the hospital increasingly complex-
191.
Work on the planning and commissioning of the Princess Margaret Hospital has continued and the equipment is all on order. Some delay has arisen in the completion of the quarters which are under a separate building contract and it is expected that the hospital will be fully operational during the first half of 1975.
192.
Staff Welfare work has not been as active as was hoped due to the resignation of the Staff Welfare Officer and difficulty in finding a suitable replacement.
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