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VEDJESDAY, AUCUST 14, 1974
HE PROMISED THAT THE FEASIBILITY OF SUBSIDISING VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS TO PROVIDE SUCH A SERVICE IN INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS WOULD BE REFERRED TO THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AT ITS FIRST REVIEW OF THE WHITE PAPER NEXT YEAR.
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ON THE ASSESSMENT OF THE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, HE SAID ALL THE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED HAD AGREED THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR A FULL-TIME SERVICE FOR SUCH ADULTS AND CHILDREN. A PLAN WAS UNDERWAY TO SET UP A FULL-TIME ASSESSMENT CLINIC IN THE ARRAN STREET CLINIC IN MONG KOK BY THE ADDITION OF ONE FLOOR TO THE EXISTING BUILDING.
ADVISE HAD BEEN GIVEN ON THE REHABILITATION OF THE PARAPLEG IC BY TWO EXPERTS, AND THEY HAD RECOMMENDED THE PROVISION OF SUCH A SERVICE IN THE DUCHESS OF KENT ORTHOPAEDIC HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN, AND THE KOWLOON AND GRANTHAM HOSPITAL FOR ADULTS.
DR. CHOA NOTED THAT THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES HAD ALREADY TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT A PROGRAITHE PLAN WAS ALREADY IN HAND TO COVER THE WHOLE FIELD OF REHABILITATION SERVICES. THERE WOULD BE FULL CONSULATION WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF ALL INTERESTED BODIES AT THE APPROPRIATE STAGE.
IN A REFERENCE TO THE ACCIDENT SERVICE, HE TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT EVERY EFFORT WOULD BE MADE TO IMPROVE THE FACILITIES OF EXISTING CASUALTY DEPARTMENTS. A TWO-TIER ACCIDENT SERVICE WOULD. BE INTRODUCED BY USING REGIONAL AND DISTRICT HOSPITALS AS DESIGNATED ACCIDENT CENTRES AND ACCIDENT CENTRES RESPECTIVELY.
IT WOULD NOT TAKE LONG, OR MUCH PREPARATION, TO IMPLEMENT THIS SYSTEM ONCE REGIONALISATION WAS COMPLETED. A PROGRAMME PLAN HAD NOW BEEN STARTED ON THE AMBULANCE SERVICE, AND THIS WOULD ENABLE THE DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ACCIDNNT AND AMBULANCE SERVICES WOULD GO FORWARD TOGETHER.
DR. CHOA ENDED ON A NOTE OF THANKS TO THE STAFF OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WHO HAD BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR PRODUCING THE WHITE PAPER.
HE EXPRESSED HIS GRATITUDE TO SIR ALBERT RODRIGUES, CHAIRMAN OF THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND HIS COLLEAGUES, FOR THE REPORT ON WHICH THE WHITE PAPER HAD BEEN BASED.
HE WAS ALSO CRATEFUL TO PROFESSIONAL BODIES AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO HAD OFFERED THEIR VIEWS.
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