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 and other medico-legal work. This includes all homicides, suspected homicides, deaths while in custody, traffic 'hit and run', and other Coroner's cases, The professional staff dealt with a total of 592 autopsies, 834 clinical examinations and blood groupings and 3,392 laboratory examinations in 1978.
Nursing
VIII.
OTHER SERVICES
(Tables 71-76)
The total establishment of the nursing and allied grades is
This included 6,259, an increase of 4% over last year's establishment. staff for the Comprehensive Observation Scheme, the Central Health Education Unit, the Pneumoconiosis Scheme, and training reserves.
Registered
There are five grades in the medical division Nurse (General), Registered Nurse (Pay.), Enrolled Nurse (General), Enrolled Nurse (Pay.) and Hidwives, while in the health division there are three other grades Health Visitors, Health Auxiliaries and Inoculators. The structure of the Health Nursing Class is being reviewed by the Hedical Development Advisory Committee and is likely to be re-organised.
Local training facilities are available for seven of these grades. Hong Kong residents who have received relevant training in UK are also recruited through the Hong Kong Government Office in London.
In 1978, the Nursing Service benefitted by the return of nursing personnel who had successfully completed overseas training courase in nursing administration, nursing education, dietetics, geriatric nursing, cardio-thoracic nursing and intensive care nursing-
A pilot scheme in Community Nursing run by the subvented sector has been evaluated by the medical Development Advisory Committee and the Service would be recognised as an integrated part of the government's medical and health services.
Medical Social Service
The rapid expansion of the medical and health services and the increasing emphasis on rehabilitation continued to make heavy demands on the medical social service. There are six divisions: Hong Kong, Kowloon, New Territories, mental health, chest and special skin, and narcotics. The number of cases handled was 68,949. Servicea rendered included financial assistance, compassionate rehousing, counselling, placoment in institutions and job-placement. Contemporary social work skills and techniques, such as group work, out-reaching, conjoint treatment therapies, are getting more emphasis.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy service is available in 15 hospitals and clinics. In 1978, 120,734 patients (of which 66,860 were new patienta) received 1,198,333 treatments, an increase of 14% both in terms of patients and treatments.
Occupational Therapy
There were altogether 14 units in the service which has a staff of 106. In 1978, 12,433 pationte were given a total of 679,399 treatments, representing increases of 2.7% in terms of patients and 3.6% in terms of treatments in comparison with 1977.
Frosthetic-Orthotics
Increases in the number of industrial and traffic accidents have added to the rising demand on the Prosthetic-Orthotic Service. In 1978, 7,080 patients were treated with a total attendance of 16,862.
Narcotics and Drugs
The department provides treatment for narcotic drug abusers either by mothadone maintenance or detoxification.
Four methadonc maintenance centros and 17 methadone detoxification centres cater for the demand for treatment facilities. In 1978, new admissions to the maintenance and detoxification centres were 1,047 and 1,866 respectively.
Pharmaceutical Service
The Pharmaceutical Service is responsible for providing hospitals, clinics and health centres with drugs, dressings, surgical instruments and hospital sundries. Itoms are also supplied to government-assisted institutiona on request. It has a staff of 256 of all grades (including pharmacists and dispensers).
The Chief Pharmacist supervises the enforcement of ordinances pertaining to dangerous drugs, poisons and antibiotics.
During the year, 4,767 premises were inspected and 85 prosecutions were initiated. Of the 50 candidates who sat for the examinations for the registration of pharmacists, 12 passed.
/Medical
IX.
TRAINING