Pathology
VII.
SPECIAL SERVICES
(Tables 64 69)
The Institute of Pathology runs clinical pathology and public health laboratory services for the government and a consultant service for the government-assisted sector. It also administrates mortuaries and blood banks, A total of 5.71 million examinations was undertaken by the Institute. This represented an increase of 25% over the previous year; this excludes tests done for Queen Mary Hospital which is served by the Department of Pathology of the Hong Kong University.
50,656 pints of blood were received of which 50,473 were collected by the Red Cross. 7.2% of the donated blood were found to be positive for Hepatitis B Surface Antigen as compared with 8% of the previous year.
The institute also issued vaccine to various hospitals and clinics including private practitionera. A total of 536.587 ml. of vaccine was issued in 1979.
Radiology and Oncology
divisions
The Institute of Radiology and Oncology comprises three main
radiodiagnostic, radiotherapy and radiation physics.
The Radiodiagnostic Division provides x-ray diagnostic service. The division operates in hospitals, polyclinics, clinics and mobile radiography units. 853,892 examinations were performed which is an increase of 3.5% over last year.
The Radiotherapy Division is the largest radiotherapy centre in Hong Kong. It is based in both Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Queen Mary Hospital and treats about 90% of patients requiring the service. It also offers a chemotherapy service and operates a Cancer Registry covering the whole of Hong Kong. The number of patients with malignant diseases treated was 4,513, an increase of 10% compared with 1978.
The Radiation Physics Division is responsible for the operation of the Radioisotope Laboratories, the Mould Laboratories, the Radiological Workshop, the Photographic Section and the Radiation Health Unit.
It runs a fil-badge radiation monitoring and protection service for radiation workers and also acts in an advisory capacity within the Radiation Board on radiation hazards and protection.
Anaesthesia
The anaesthetic service manned. 240 operating sessions a week and 8 emergency operating theatres on a 24-hour basis. 59,688 operations were performed under anaesthesia in 1979, an increase of 2.5% compared with 1978. The staff in the Anaesthesia Unit of Princess Margaret Hospital continued to provide anaesthesia service to other hospital and clinical units in the New Territories.
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. The work of the service 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 747 autopsies, 932 clinical examinations and blood groupings and 1,932 laboratory examinations in 1979.
Nursing
VIII.
OTHER SERVICES
(Tables 70
-
75)
The total establishment of the nursing and allied grades in 6,442, a slight increase of 3% over last year's establishment. This includes 300 nursing posts for Shatin Hospital.
There are five grades in the medical division; Registered Nurse (General), Registered Nurse (Pay.), Enrolled Nurse (General), Enrolled Nurse (Psy.) and Midwife, whilst in the health division there are three grades; Health Visitor, Enrolled Nurse (Health) & Inoculator. Seven of these grades have their local training in the Government Hospitals' School of Nursing • Hong Kong residents who have received relevant training in the United Kingdom are also recruited through the Hong Kong Government Office in London.
The nursing service benefitted by the return of nursing personnel who had successfully completed overseas training courses in nursing administration, nursing education, dietetics, urology, paediatric and geriatric nursing in the past year,
Pharmaceutical Service
The Pharmaceutical Service is responsible for providing hospitala, clinics and health centres with drugs, dressings, surgical instruments and hospital sundries. Items are also supplied to government-assisted institutions on request. It has a staff of 291 of all grades (including pharmacists and dispensers).
The Chief Pharmacist supervises the enforcement of ordinances pertaining to dangerous drugs, poisons and antibiotica.
During the year, 3.565 premises were inspected and 82 prosecutions were initiated. Of the 94 candidates who sat for the examinations for the registration of pharmacists, 25 passed.
Medical
/Forensic