during an emergency. The Medical Defence Staff Officer is responsible for the routine administration of the Auxiliary Medical Service and the Director of Medical and Health Services is the Unit Controller.
485. Recruitmcar continued steadily throughout the year and there was a net increase of just over 200 members. This was due largely to the formation of two new detachments at Tai Po and Tsuen Wan in the New Territories, Previously, the A.M.S. functioned only in the urban areas but the extent of the clinic service in the New Territories now warrants a trained reserve in case of civil emergency. In the urban areas the loss of members duc to absence from the Colony, retirement, and transfer to other Civil Defence Units continued and was just balanced by the intake of recruits,
486. The development of training facilities was a most satisfactory feature of the year's work, Demonstration first-aid squads have been formed on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon and have proved in- valuable not only in training recruits but in stimulating keenness and improving morale. Wound-faking of live 'casualties' was introduced as a routine during zone exercises held in conjunction with the Civil Aid Services and members of ambulance teams have also been in attendance at certain times at the Casualty Departments of the Queen Mary and Kowloon Hospitals. This has introduced a valuable element of realism into the training which not only conditions recruits but makes for much gentler handling of the injured. The combined CAS/AMS exercises held cach month in different zones have resulted in an all round improvement in control, communications and co-operation between the two services. 487. At Ambulance Depots 1.167 members are now carrying out regular training in ambulance and first-aid work of up to fourteen hours duration each month, In the proficiency examinations in first-aid 822 members were awarded certificates,
488. The courses of instruction completed during the year were:
Members attending
Barle Fisrtid
62
Ward Auxiliary Dressers Course (4 days)
Members attending
72
Driving Instruction
92
Auxiliary Nurses Hospital Courie
(2 weeks)
83
Message
Writing
64
Auxiliary Dressers Başis Course
113
Stores and Storekeeping
41
Ward Refresher Course
(5 days)
538
489. A special promotion course was held for 62 Grade Il members to fit them for advancement to Grade 111 or above.
94
490. Two Sundays each month were devoted to the training of phar- macists and dispensers in the preparation of intravenous fluids. This training is carried out at four depots, two on each side of the harbour, under the supervision of the Chief Pharmacist.
V. TRAINING PROGRAMME
DOCTORS
491. Undergraduate training is carried out at the University of Hong Kong which confers the degree of M.B. B.S. recognized since 1911 by the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom. The Queen Mary Hospital is the Teaching Hospital and post-graduate training there for higher specialist qualifications is recognized by the majority of the Examining Bodies in Great Britain. The Tsan Yuk Maternity Hospital and the Queen Mary Hospital are recognized by the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology for training leading to the Diploma and Membership Examinations.
492. For the first time. the examinations for Part I of the Diploma in Medical Radiology in Diagnosis and Therapy were held in the Colony, during October 1958. Sixteen candidates sat the examinations and nine passed, six in Diagnosis and three in Therapy.
493. The Society of Apothecaries in London also held examinations in Hong Kong for the primary qualifications of L.M.S.S.A. during October, November and December. The written examinations were held in October and the papers corrected in London by the Society's ex- aminers before they came to Hong Kong for the practical and oral examinations in November and December. Members of the University and Government Clinical Staff assisted as external examiners.
494. Of the 119 candidates attempting the examinations, 87 passed in one or more subjects, of whom 43 passed in all subjects. Further examinations by the Society will be held towards the end of 1959 and again in 1960 for the third and last time.
495. The Panel on Post Graduate Medical Education consisting of University and Government staff members met four times during the year. This Panel keeps the programme of training for post-graduate qualifications under review and makes recommendations regarding appointments to training posts and the progress of those under training.
90
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