310. A total of 1,892 cases was admitted during the year, of which 1,381 were suffering from infectious disease. 313 from tuberculosis and 198 from conditions other than infectious disease. The distribution of beds for the receipt of convalescent cases from the two acute hospitals is:
Queen Mary Hospital (63) Kowloon Hospital (173)
Surgical Medical Orthopaedic
19 BJ
*
Gynaecological
p
14
311. The intake of cases of diphtheria again threw a great strain on the Infectious Diseases portion of the Hospital. Eight hundred and fifty-three cases were treated, of whom more than half were found to have laryngeal involvement and of these 284 required tracheotomy. The mortality was 11.1%. Typhoid fever accounted for 137 cases with a case mortality of 0.7%, the lowest on record, Broncho-pneumonia following measles accounted for a mortality of 35.3% in 167 cases of measles admitted with complications. Delay in attending for realment accounted for the majority of the deaths, as the children were often moribund on admission. There were 54 cases of tetanus with a mortality rate of 55.6%. Tubercular meningitis, meningococcal meningitis. encephalitis, bacillary and amoebic dysentery accounted for the re- mainder of the cases. Poliomyelitis gave rise to concern with a sudden increase of 122 cases admitted compared with 18 in the previous year. Cases with bulbar involvement accounted for a 15.6% mortality.
312. Cases of pulmonary tuberculosis under treatment, including those remaining in hospital from the previous year, totalled 489. Only minor surgical procedures were carried out in Lai Chi Kok as collapse therapy has now been discarded and radical surgery is carried out elsewhere.
Tsun Yuk Maternity Hospital
313. This is the main specialist maternity hospital in the Colony and is maintained by Government. The Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the University undertakes responsibility for the clinical work in the wards assisted by medical staff of the University unit and certain Government Medical Officers. This is also the obstetric teaching hospital for medical students and the main training centre for midwives. The Medical Superintendent, resident House Officers and the nursing and administrative staff are provided by Government. The Professor, three Lecturers, one Assistant Lecturer and three Clinical Assistants constitute the Hong Kong University staff.
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314. There is a total of 200 beds and there were 10,320 admissions during the year. At the out-patients' clinics 43,625 attendances were recorded, of which 12,167 were new cases. There were 7.866 live births. 124 still births and 118 neo-natal deaths in the hospital; 7.38% of the total births in the Colony took place in Tsun Yuk.
315. Of the 8,918 maternity cases admitted 96.94% were booked cases. The still birth rate was 1.57% and the neo-natal death rate 1.5%. The maternal mortality rate was 0.9 per 1,000 live and still births.
316. Ante-natal, post-natal and baby clinics are held throughout the year; in addition there are specialist clinics for medical conditions complicating pregnancy, a social hygiene clinic for venereal diseases and a Family Planning Clinic, all three of which are held either once or twice weekly.
317. In the hospital laboratory 31,763 routine examinations were carried out, of which 8,638 were for blood grouping. In addition there is a research laboratory, staffed by the University, which is carrying out research into the blood group factor in still births and cases of hydramnios, protein levels in pregnancy, blood groups in twin pregnancies and serum bilirubin levels in antepartum and, especially. accidental haemorrhage.
318. The radiodiagnostic section undertook 12,474 X-ray examina- tions, of which 10,457 were chest X-rays and 1,067 for pelvimetry.
319. Forty-four medical students in groups of four or five underwent five weeks training in obstetrics; forty new student midwives entered the course of training during the year and twenty-six student midwives from the hospital passed the Midwives Board's Examinations.
320. Owing to the limited number of beds, uncomplicated multi- gravida deliveries remained in hospital for only three to four days; however primigravidae with normal deliveries remain for seven days.
Mental Hospital
321.
A new Mental Hospital is being built near Castle Peak in the New Territories. So far two wards with common
rooms and ancillary annexes have been completed, providing accommodation for sixty men and sixty women. A further block of 120 beds will become available at the end of 1959; thereafter the extension of the hospital will proceed until the total complement of 1,000 beds has been provided; this is expected to take place towards the end of 1960.
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