10
30% of the cases of viral hepatitis were found positive for hepatitis B antigen.
Radiology and Oncology.
The 26 static X-ray centres and three mobile radiography units produced a total output of 799,960 examinations, an increase of approximately 2% compared with the previous year. The Institute of Radiology and Oncology treated more than 90% of all patients requiring radiotherapy in Hong Kong and some patients from other areas.
The film badge service covered 53 government institutions with 360 radiation workers, 130 non-government hospitals and I-ray laboratories operated by medical practitioners with 469 radiation workers, and 22 industrial undertakings with 187 persons. 180 visits were made to non- government premises to inspect the working conditions of radiation workers and to ensure that the I-ray equipment posed no radiation hazarda to the public.
Research was continued on the epidemiology of naso- pharyngeal carcinoma.
Anaethe sia
The anasthetic service manned 225 operating sessions a week and 7 operating theatres on a 24-hour basis for emergencies. A total of 57,128 cases were administered anasthesia in various hospitals in 1976.
Forensic Pathology
The Forensic Pathology Service advises and works in close association with the Royal Hong Kong Police Force on the medical aspects of criminology. This includes all homicidal deaths, deaths under suspicious circumstances, sexual offences, and other offences against the person. professional staff dealt with a total of 336 autopsies, 1,031 clinical examinations and blood groupings and 3,659 laboratory examinations in 1976.
Government Laboratory
The
The Government Laboratory provides chemical and related scientific services for Government Department s. There are two divisions, general and forensic. The total number of items examined in 1976 were 78,882, a decrease of 14% compared with the previous year,
Nursing
11
VIII.
OTHER SERVICES
(Tables 12-77)
The total number of staff in the nursing and allied grades is 5,928 who undertake duties in all government hospitals and clinica as well as in the health services. The increase in establishment is due to the Princess Margaret Hospital becoming fully operational and the opening of the Tang Chi Ngong Specialist Clinic. The nursing unit at Hong Kong Airport has been enlarged and its service extended throughout 24 hours.
In the medical division there are five grades; Registered Nurse (General), Registered Nurse (Pay.), Enrolled Nurse (General), Enrolled Nurse (Pay.) and Midwives, whilet in the health division there are another three gredoo; Health Visitors, Health Auxillaries and Inoculatore. Seven of the se grades have their own source of training in approved training schools and at the same time local Chinese residents who have received training in the United Kingdom may be recruited through the Hong Kong Government Office in London.
The Nursing Services benefited by the return of nursing personnel who had successfully completed overseas courses of instruction in nursing administration, nursing education, paychiatric community nursing, urological nursing, cardiothoracic nursing, paediatric nursing, oto-rhino- laryngological nursing and ophthalmic nursing-
Pharmaceutical Service
There were 29 pharmacists and 209 dispensers of all grades who served in the government hospitals and clinics.
60 prosecutions were instituted under the Dangerous Drugs, Poisons and Antibiotics Ordinances. A Registration and Licensing Section had been established to enforce the Pharmacy and Poison Regulations (1975) for the registration of pharmaceutical products and the licensing of local pharmaceutical factories. Èxaminations for the registration of pharmacists were held in June and December, 12 out of 38 candidates passed.