Hospitals
V Hospital and Clinic Services
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There are three types of hospitals in Hong Kong Government, Government-assisted and private with a total of 24 550 beds representing 4.4 beds per thousand of the population. Pressure on the service was experienced on all fronts, reflected by the increase in attendance at out- patient clinics, accident and emergency departments and by the number of hospital admissions.
To ensure better co-ordination within the health sector, the Department has adopted a regional approach in the planning and administration of medical and health services. Under the scheme, hospital and clinic facilities situated in a common geographical area are grouped together to form an integrated network of services. The aim is to ensure a more even utilization of medical facilities in both the Government and Government-subvented hospitals and clinics.
In 1986, the total attendance at Government and Government- assisted Accident and Emergency Departments was 1 123 102, averaging 3 077 attendances per day. A total of 644 753 patients were treated in the 14 Government and 20 Government-assisted hospitals.
Clinics
General out-patient services form a vital part of the primary health care system. The Government operates 62 (53 public and 9 non-public) general out-patient clinics. Where necessary, cases are referred to polyclinics or specialist clinics for specialist attention. Evening, Sunday and Public Holiday sessions are also held at clinics which are heavily subscribed as part of an overall measure to meet the expanding demand for out-patient services. Mobile dispensaries and floating clinics take medical services to the outlying islands and the more remote areas of the New Territories. Other inaccessible areas are visited regularly by the 'flying doctor service with assistance from the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force.
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Ophthalmic Service
The Unit operates two main out-patient clinics and a number of part-time clinics in the territory. In 1986 there were a total of 248 017 attendances to these clinics. Emergency service is also provided in the major regional hospitals. There are a total of 95 ophthalmic beds in the Government hospitals. Mobile ophthalmic teams visit these hospitals on a sessional basis to perform elective and emergency surgery as well as to deal with cases referred from other clinical units. In 1986, a total of 2 261 operations were performed in the hospitals and a further 3 789 operations were performed in the out-patient eye clinics. The number of permanent blindness registered was 998 and the pattern of the causes for blindness was observed to be mainly degenerative in nature.
An Orthoptic Unit was established to assist in the assessment and treatment of patients with defects in vision and ocular mobility. Additional teams of orthoptists would be established on a regional basis to help with the work of the opthalmic service as well as the assessment of children in Child Assessment Centres.
Ear, Nose and Throat Service
The ENT Unit comprises two main in-patient divisions with a total of 33 beds in Queen Mary Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The total number of in-patients treated in 1986 was 2 767 with 2 074 surgical operations performed. The Unit also runs 15 full- and part-time out-patient clinics. In 1986, the total attendances were 102 104. Minor operations and therapeutic procedures were also performed in these out-patient clinics. Speech therapy services were available on a limited scale for those who have developed speech difficulties as a result of recent disease or surgery, and 4 277 patient-sessions for assessment and treatment were conducted in 1986. The audiological personnel in the unit performed 10 337 audiometric assessments within the year.
Mental Health Service
The Mental Health Service, in conjunction with academic and voluntary bodies, provides a comprehensive psychiatric service for the mentally-ill. Sophisticated treatment facilities are available at the two major psychiatric hospitals Castle Peak Hospital with 1 935 beds and Kwai Chung Hospital with 1 172 beds and at the psychiatric units of regional and district hospitals. In line with the universal trend of operating smaller psychiatric units within general hospitals, an additional 2 542 beds are to be provided in the various hospitals under planning.
In paralled with the hospital facilities are psychiatric centres, which provide a wide range of out-patient treatment, assessment, counselling and after-care services on a regional basis. The centres also operate day hospital places and provide other social, occupational and recreational therapy services for the mentally-ill.
In 1986, there were 6 399 admissions to the mental hospitals, 748 to the various day hospitals and 224 281 attendances at the out-patient psychiatric centres. Medical staff were hard pressed by the increasing number of medical boards, and of referrals from courts, probation officers and police as well as assessment for disability allowance and the compensation boards for evaluating emotional damages in victims of violent crimes. Clinical psychologists of the Mental Health Service conducted a total of 11 416 interviews which entailed assessment and therapeutic functions.
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