10
11
Medical Staff
IX.
TRAINING PROGRAMMES
(Tables 77 - 79)
Higher professional examinations were held in Hong Kong in 1978 by the Royal College of Physicians, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and the Royal Australasian College of Radiologists.
In 1978, 51 government doctors received overseas training- were sponsored by the government.
Dental Staff
16
Training in dentistry is not yet available locally until the Dental School at the Hong Kong University commences its first intake of students in 1980. In 1978, three dental scholarships were awarded by the government for dental training overseas. Hitherto, 91 candidatos out of the 114 scholarships awarded in the past years have completed their professional training and returned.
Nursing Staff
710 general and 173 psychiatric student nurses wore undergoing three-year courses leading to registration with the Nursing Board of Hong Kong. for the two-year courses leading to Enrolment with the Nursing Board, there were 109 general and 49 psychiatric pupil nurses,
106 registered nurses were taking one-year post-basic training in midwifery to registration with the Midwives Board of Hong Kong. Tvo registered nurses (genoral) have successfully completed an 18-month post- basic course in psychiatric nursing.
25 registered nursce are currently participating in a one-year post-basic course in health nursing. Also, 10 enrolled nurses have completed a 6-month course basic health nursing.
Government Hospitals' School of General Nursing and the Community Nursing Service jointly organised a 4-month course in Community Nursing for enrolled nurses in December 1978. Eight enrolled nurses who completed the course will form the nucleus of the new Community Nursing Service.
In-service training courses include renal nursing, ophthalmic nursing, obstetric nuraing, health nursing and psychiatric nursing-
Para-medical Staff
There wore 59 student dispensers, 8 student dental technicians, 36 student medical laboratory technicians, 31 student physiotherapists, 5 student prosthetists and 39 student radiographers undergoing training in the respective fields. During the year, 3 student dispensers, 9 student medical laboratory technicians, 9 student physiotherapists and 5 student radiographers graduated.
Progress on Localisation
The Medical and Health Department is the most localised of all government departmente. Overseas recruitment is resorted to only if expertise is not available locally physiotherapists and occupational therapists being cases in point. With the establishment of the Institute
of Medical and Health Care at the Polytechnic and the Dental Therapist Training School at the MacLehose Dental Centre, the local supply of para-medical and para-dental stuff will in future be greatly enhanced. The Dental School to be setablished in 1980 at the Hong Kong University will ensure a continuous local supply of dentists.
MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT
(Table 80)
A White Paper titled "The further Development of Medical and Health Services in Hong Kong" published in 1974 provides a blue print for the future development of the services in the next 10 years. Development
is reviewed annually. A 10-year Medical Development Programme containing proposals for the further development of the services will be published in 1979.
During the year, the Machchose Dental Centre in Morrison Hill was completed. It accommodates a training school for dental therapists, a dental clinic, a school dental clinic and the new head office of the Dental Service. Preliminary foundation work for the Dental Teaching Hospital was completed during the year. Construction of the super-structure will soon commence -
The operating theatre of Tang Shiu Kin Hospital was improved to enable a wider range of operations to be undertaken.
An extension to Yan Chai Hospital providing 50 beda and staff quarters was completed in March 1979. A second phase of development will 5000 commence.
An 13-storey extension of the Caritas medical Centre began operation in 1979. It comprises 576 beds for the geriatric and mentally- handicapped and supportive ancillary facilities.
A new block for the Nam Long Hospital including offices, quarters and staff canteen was completed in May 1978.
There has been steady progress for projects already in the Public Works Programme. The 1300-bed psychiatric wing of Princess Margaret Hospital will be completed in 1980. Construction of the super- structure of the 1400-bed Sha Tin Hospital will soon start. Preliminary planning is being done for the Tuen Mun Hospital (to be completed by 1984/85) to serve west New Territories.
/Progress
/The