A Radiation Health Unit was established within the departzent in March 1982. The professional staff of the unit undertake regular inspection visit to medical, commercial and industrial premises to monitor the working conditions of radiation workara. This is to ensure that the radioactive equipments and irradiating apparatus are vell maintained and the operation procedures for the handling of radioactive substance are safe. In addition the unit also runs an on-going radiation film badge monitoring programme for groups of radiation workers requiring the service. Radiation licences are also issued to the proprietors in accordance with the Radiation Ordinance and Regulations.
Pharmaceutical Service
The Pharmaceutical Service of the Medical and Health Department looks after requirements for drugs, dressings, surgical instruments and hospital aundriss of all Government hospitals, clinica and health centres including Government-assisted medical institutions. The service aleo supervises and enforces law pertaining to the control of dangerous drugs, poisons and antibiotics governed by the respective Ordinances.
Following the finding of high content of lead in a brand of Chinese herbal medicine, the monitoring of toxic heavy metals in Chinese medicine and cosmetice had been intensified for safeguarding publie health. As a result, a number of Chinese patent medicines and cosmetic creada were banned,
Anaesthesia
The anaesthetic service carried out 247 operating sessions a week and 9 24-hour emergency operating theatres. 60,531 operations were performed under anaesthesia in 1981. The staff in Anaesthesia Unit of Princess Margaret Hospital continued to provide anaesthetic service to other district hospitals and clinical unite in the New Territories on a part-time basie.
VIII Training
In support of the ambitious medical development programme, additional training facilities are being developed for the training of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff.
Apart from the University of Hong Kong which produces 150 doctors a year, the medical school in the Chinese University of Hong Kong hae commenced its first intake of 60 students in September 1981. Opportunities are available for doctors to ait for higher professional examinations in Hong Kong by dual arrangement with various examination bodies in the United Kingdom and Australia. During 1981, 110 doctors went overseas for post-graduate training on Government or other scholarships.
An institute of medical and health care at the Hong Kong Polytechnic provides training for paramedical staff including radiographers, physiotherapiste, occupational therapists and medical laboratory technicians. In-service training and post-qualification training courses are almo available for paramedical staff within the civil service.
There are three Government hospital achools of nursing for general registered nurses. A fourth will be established in the new Prince of Wales Hospital in 1983 and a fifth school in the Tuen Mun Bospital in 1987. Other approved nurse training schools are attached to Government-assisted and private hospitals. There are two psychiatric nurse training schoola, one each in the Castle Peak Hospital and the new Kwai Chung Hospital. The former also offers training for paychiatric enrolled nurses. There is also an enrolled nurse training school in the Kowloon Hospital with an output of about 120 nurses a year. Another similar training school is in the planning stage.
The Government also runs post-qualified in-service training courses for registered and enrolled nurses in midwifery, health nursing and community nuraing. Selected staff nurase are also sent overseas for special training in health education, occupational health and psychiatric nursing.
VII Medical Development
The Lek Yuen Health In the year three new clinics were opened. Centre at Shatin providem a range of primary health care serviçen including general out-patient, family health, health education and public health laboratory. The newly completed 1300-bed Kwai Chung Hospital for the mentally-illed, with all its modern facilities began ita phased operation during the year.
The Prince of Wales Hospital with its 1,500 beds is scheduled to open early in 1983. It will serve as the regional hospital for the East New Territories Region and the teaching hospital for the medical school of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Another four major hospitals of over 1,200 beds each and more than 20 clinics and polyclinica will be established in the coming decade. Other facilities planned includes the establishment of 6 multidisciplinary child assessment centree,
A total of 5 new medical rehabilitation centres and 3 major infirmaries. 12,000 additional hospital beda will be established by 1991.
IX Acknowledgement
I wish to pay tribute to all the staff who have contributed to the efficient and effective functioning of the Department in the year under review. Though there had been pressure and difficulties, all performed their duties with devotion and dedication. I am most grateful for their unfailing support.
The Department acknowledgee with thanks the assistance and cooperation given by other government departments, voluntary agencies, the press, the radio and television networks.
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