appliances they were supplied free and payment was made to the maker from a special fund voted for this purpose by Government.
433. From the Samaritan Fund $10,590 was spent on travelling expenses for needy patients and their relatives, on extra nourishment, on hawkers' licences for patients who were being re-established after an illness resulting in the loss of employment and on many other necessary sundries.
Physiotherapy
434. The staff of this Service, in charge of the Superintendent Physiotherapist, has been considerably augmented by the appointment of two qualified Physiotherapists from overseas and the return from the United Kingdom of two qualified Hong Kong Physiotherapists who have been studying in the United Kingdom under Sino-British Scholar- ships. On the other hand the demand for physiotherapy has far out- stripped the accommodation available. Nevertheless the standard of work is now much higher and the initiation of supervised group activity has ensured the maximum possible expansion of the service within the limits of accommodation.
435. The headquarters of the service is at the Wan Chai Clinic where there are a gymnasium, individual treatment cubicles and a hydrotherapy tank. Physiotherapy units are also established in the Queen Mary Hospital, the Kowloon Hospital and the Lai Chi Kok Hospital. There is no gymnasium at any of the hospitals as yet and therefore classes are held, whenever possible, outside. Limitations imposed by the weather make this a far from satisfactory arrangement. 436. An overhead suspension apparatus and suspension bars have been fitted in the Lai Chi Kok Hospital. A suspension bed and a portable suspension apparatus are now in use at the Queen Mary Hospital. These enable suspension therapy to be practised in the wards. A number of wheel chairs were purchased for the male patients in Lai Chi Kok. This means that, despite the difficult terrain, patients can now get to the physiotherapy and occupational therapy units themselves.
437. The local manufacture of good rattan appliances has been most beneficial to the work of the Physiotherapists. Patients are thus much more mobile and can attend group activities in the several physiotherapy units or come themselves for individual treatment.
438. The treatment of cases of child poliomyelitis has been greatly facilitated by the establishment of an orthopaedic consultant clinic at
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Wan Chai, the opening of the Sandy Bay Convalescent Home, the availability of rattan splints and the increase in stuff. Children of 5 years and over work in groups while those under 5 are still being treated individually. Many of these children are now able to walk and the waiting list for surgical treatment has been considerably reduced. Out-patient physiotherapy treatment is also available on a limited scale at the Kowloon Hospital, where there is provision for hydrotherapy.
439. The Orthopaedic Unit takes full advantage of the service and much more can now be done for the trauma cases in need of physiotherapy.
440. The increase of staff and equipment has also benefited the long term paraplegic patients, particularly in the Lai Chi Kok Hospital, There is at last some prospect of discharge from hospital and of rehabilitation in some form of light employment.
441. Physiotherapy for pre- and post-operative chest cases, for neurological cases and for leprosy patients is being developed as facilities permit.
442. The training of Physiotherapists locally is, owing to the lack of accommodation for students, very limited and only two students are al present under instruction.
443. There is a small room available as a classroom at Wan Chai and physical training instruction is carried out at the Northcote Training College by courtesy of the Education Department. Demonstra- tions in anatomy are given once a week at the University Dissecting Room, again, by courtesy of the Professor of Anatomy. The lectures and training in physiotherapy are given by the Superintendent Physio- therapist at Wan Chai.
Occupational Therapy
444. This service is the responsibility of the Senior Occupational Therapist assisted by four Occupational Therapists, three Clerk- Interpreters and six Handicraft Instructors. There are three Occupa- tional Therapy units at the Queen Mary, Lai Chi Kok and Mental Hospitals respectively.
445. During the year, illness and staff changes made continuity of treatment difficult but towards the end of the year an improved staff situation allowed an increase in the scope of both diversional and specific therapy. The standard of work also improved and there was
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