Pursuing the practice of community psychiatry and adopting the multidisciplinary team approach in patient management, special emphasis is placed on the after-care of discharged mental patients during their integration back into the community. The Community Psychiatric Nursing Service established since 1982, provides continuity in after-care treatment programmes to mentally-ill patients discharged from the two psychiatric hospitals, the out-patients from psychiatric centres/clinics and Department of Psychiatry in the two Universities. Other complementary rehabilitative supporting services include after-care social service, placement service, half way houses, long-stay care homes, social clubs, and are organised by the various voluntary agencies. Through the Rehabilitation Development Co- ordinating Committee these services are closely monitored and co-ordinated.
Severely mentally handicapped persons requiring intensive nursing care and medical treatment are being cared for in Siu Lam Hospital with 200 beds and the Caritas Medical Centre with 300 beds. In order to meet the great demand in this area, a further 704 beds in this category have been planned for the next decade.
Physiotherapy Service
Physiotherapy is being provided for patients in acute and convalescent hospitals, in maternity wards, in out-patient clinics and in the medical rehabilitation centres. It aims to promote early rehabilitation of the sick, and the physical and mentally handicapped in the various institutes and centres.
In 1986, a total of 238 390 patients were treated and 1 995 210 treatment-sessions recorded. With the heavy demand and the anticipated rapid expansion of the service, the training capacity for physiotherapists in the Hong Kong Polytechnic has been increased to 80 since 1983 and will be further expanded to 120 in 1988.
Occupational Therapy Service
Occupational Therapy Service ains at the restoration of function and ability for those affected by physical or mentally disabling conditions. These people undergo supervised activities that can assist in their re- integration into the community.
In 1986, 35 198 patients were treated with 1 739 412 treatment
sessions conducted.
Prosthetic-Orthotic Service
Prosthetic & Orthotic Services are required for the treatment of patients with physical disability caused by disease or injury. These people are fitted and supplied with various prosthetic and orthotic appliances designed to restore wholly or partly their bodily functions and/or appearance.
In 1986, a total of 18 725 patients were treated and 47 642 attendances were recorded.
Community Nursing Service
The Community Nursing Service extends continuing care to patients discharged from hospitals after suffering from acute illness and provides domiciliary medical care and support for the sick, disabled and the elderly in their own homes. The services are delivered by community nurses and include skilled nursing care, supportive mobility and physiotherapy exercises as well as health educational advice. The nurses encourage patients, with the help of their families, to participate in their own treatment and rehabilitation through supportive care and health teaching, thus assisting in the prevention of relapse.
Jointly operated by eight agencies including the Medical and Health Department, the service is regionally based, with domiciliary service provided through a network of 47 hospital stations and satellite centres. During the year, 12 097 patients were treated by community nurses and 212 138 home visits were made.
Pathology Service
VI Special Services
The Pathology Service provides clinical and public health laboratory services to Government hospitals and clinics, and a consultancy service for the Government-assisted sector. It also administers mortuaries and blood banks. In 1986, a total of 14.79 million tests were undertaken by the service representing an increase of 14% over the previous year. units of blood were received by the blood banks in the year.
45 663
The Institute of Immunology undertakes the monitoring and quality control of biological products including vaccines for use in the local health services. A total of 928 175 ml of vaccines were produced in 1986, These were mainly bacterial vaccines (Cholera and Typhoid) and poliomyelitis vaccine. The Virus Unit provides a central laboratory service for the diagnosis and surveillance of various viral infections including AIDS. also provides invaluable services for the screening, assessment and guidance of vaccination pragrammes against viral infections for the community.
It
In 1984, a Central Neo-natal Screening Laboratory was established in the Kwong Wah Hospital on a temporary basis. The main function of this unit is to co-ordinate the laboratory activities of the territory-wide neo-- natal screening programme on congenital hypothyroidise and glucose 6 phosphatase dehydrogenose deficiency.
The Forensic Pathology Service with its fully established forensic laboratory works closely with the Royal Hong Kong Police Force on the medical aspect of criminology and other medico-legal work. The work of the service also includes investigations in all homicides and coroner's cases. The professional staff dealt with a total of 4 657 post-mortem examinations, i 155 clinical examinations and blood groupings, and 4 665 laboratory examinations in 1986.
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