204. Accommodation available consists of 20 beds and 3 cots and they were kept fully occupied throughout the year. The number of admissions was 1,111 as compared with 1,074 in 1951.
Mental Hospital.
205. The Mental Hospital is situated on Hong Kong Island and occupies out-moded buildings with less than adequate accom- modation. Reasonable accommodation exists for 140 patients but the year commenced with 224 and ended with 260. Over- crowding was very serious and the cause of great concern to the staff responsible for the institution.
206. In the past, when there was free movement between the Colony and China, many families sent mentally afflicted relatives back to their villages on the Mainland and, in addition, there was an arrangement whereby citizens of China suffering from mental illness were transferred to the Mental Hospital in Canton. This pattern is entirely changed and today the Colony's Mental Hospital, has perforce, a heavier burden to carry than that for which it was designed. Again, with the influx of very large numbers of refugees to the Colony, the population now to be served by the Mental Hospital is very much greater than before,
207. A new and modern Mental Hospital, providing a con- siderable increase in accommodation, is urgently necessary and plans for the provision of a new institution are under active consideration.
208. During the year, there were 646 first admissions and 204 re-admissions. From this number it was possible to dis- charge 464 persons with their symptoms fully remitted and a further 193 with symptoms partially remitted.
209. In spite of the unsatisfactory conditions in the hospital which would tend to make the institution merely a place of restraint a large amount of useful therapy was undertaken. All recognized modern methods of treatment were made use of, including leucotomy. In spite also of the limitation of space, a considerable amount of occupational therapy was undertaken,
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the main activities being rattan work and tailoring, but selected patients performed laundry work, sewing, mending and general ward work. Recreational facilities were limited, but badminton and table tennis were available and cinema shows were, from time to time, given by the United States Information Service and the British Council.
Stanley Prison Hospital.
210. This hospital, with three wards of 16 beds each and 6 isolation cells, is situated within the precincts of the Colony's main prison. The daily average population of the prison was 2,770 and during the year 7,539 persons were admitted to prison, All new admissions were examined by the Medical Officer.
211. Admissions to the prison hospital numbered 914 which were classified as follows:
General Casea
Infectious Cases
Tuberculosis Canes
Mental Cases
651
167
30
212. The total number of prisoners reporting sick was 55,922, the daily average being 153. A considerable number of prisoners were found to be suffering from pulmonary tuber- culosis and a medical officer of the Tuberculosis Service paid a weekly visit to the prison to see these cases. The daily average number was 39 but with the introduction of routine X-ray examination of new entrants, it can be anticipated that this figure will be increased.
219. Venereal diseases continued to be of considerable signi- ficance in the prison population and a medical officer of the Social Hygiene Service conducted weekly clinics throughout the year. Average daily attendances numbered 64 and the total number of new cases encountered during the year was 4,262.
214. Dental treatment was provided by a Government dental surgeon who regularly attended the prison twice each month. A total of 821 cases were dealt with.
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