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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1974
+REHABILITATION MUST BE CONSIDERED AN INTEGRAL PART OF MODERN MEDICAL SERVICES,+ HE SAID. +MODERN MEDICINE. AND SURGERY CAN DO WONDERS IN SAVING LIVES, BUT THEREAFTER PATIENTS MUST BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO RETURN TO NORMAL LIFE IF THEY ARE NOT TO BECOME AN IMPOSSIBLE DRAIN ON OUR RESOURCES.+
HE WELCOMED THE PROGRAMME PLAN BEING PREPARED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO IDENTIFY THE MANPOWER AND OTHER RESOURCES THAT WILL BE NEEDED TO DEVELOP CO-ORDINATED AND COMPREHENSIVE REHABILITATION SERVICES, BUT URGED THAT ELPHASIS BE PLACED ON THE NEED TO TRAIN MORE PARA-MEDICAL STAFF, INCLUDING IN PARTICULAR PHYSIOTHERAPISTS, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS AND SPEECH THERAPISTS.
+IT IS STAGGERING,+ HE SAID, THAT WITH A POPULATION OF 4.20 MILLION, WE HAVE LESS THAN 20 OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS AND ONLY A HANDFUL OF SPEECH THERAPISTS.+
HONG KONG COULD NOT RELY ON OVERSEAS RECRUITMENT SINCE DEMAND IS OUTSRIPPING SUPPLY EVERYWIERE, HE SAID, AND HE URGED THAT TOP PRIORITY BE GIVEN TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TRAINING INSTITUTE, EITHER IN THE POLYTECHNIC OR UNDER THE WING OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
TURNING TO THE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, DR. FANG REMAINED CONVINCED OF THE NEED, IN ADDITION TO SPECIALISED ASSESSMENT CLINICS, FOR TWO CENTRAL COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT CENTRES = ONE IN HONG KONG AND THE OTHER IN KOWLOON TO BE ESTABLISHED TO ASSESS THE RESIDUAL DECREE OF PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ABILITIES IN BOTH HANDICAPPED CHILDREN AND ADULTS.
+SUCH FACILITIES ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISH- ING. WHAT EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING IS NEEDED FOR AN INDIVIDUAL PATIENT, SO THAT OPTIUN USE MAY BE MADE OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES.+
FACILITIES FOR THE PARAPLEGICS WERE ALSO WANTING, HE WENT ON. AT PRESENT THERE IS ONLY ONE SUCH CENTRE AT THE KOWLOON HOSPITAL FOR PEOPLE WHO BECOME PARALYSED AS A RESULT OF SPINAL CORD INJURY OR DISEASES. DR. FANG URCED THAT PLANS BE MADE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ANOTHER PAKAPLEGIC CENTRE TO CATER FOR SUCH PATIENTS ON HONG KONG ISLAND, SAYING AT THE PRESENT MOMENT, THESE PATIENTS ARE TAKING UP VALUABLE ACUTE BEDS IN THE QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL, WHILST THE KOWLOON PARAPLEGIC CENTRE HAS A VERY LONG WAITING LIST.+
FINALLY, DR. FANG WELCOMED THE COVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO REVIEN THE MANNER III WHICH CERTAIN ASSISTED HOSPITALS ARE AT PRESENT SUBVENTED, AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE REVIEW DE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE ALL ASSISTED HOSPITALS.
/+IT IS