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MASSIVE PROGRAMME TO IMPROVE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
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THE GOVERNOR TODAY OUTLINED A MASSIVE PROGRAMME FURTHER TO IMPROVE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES WHICH CONTINUE TO BE IN HEAVY DEMAND.
IN HIS ADDRESS AT THE OPENING OF THE NEW SESSION OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR MURRAY SAID, +BY THE END OF 1976, WHEN PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL WILL BE IN FULL USE, THERE WILL BE A TOTAL OF 19,000 HOSPITAL BEDS AGAINST AN ESTIMATED REQUIREMENT OF 22,600. 2,700 OF THIS SHORTFALL IS IN PSYCHIATRIC BEDS.+
OUTLINING THE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME, HE SAID THAT IN 1980 THE NEW 1,300-BED PSYCHIATRIC WING AT PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL WOULD MEET PART OF THE SHORTFALL OF PSYCHIATRIC BEDS AND A FURTHER 630 BEDS WOULD BE ADDED IN OTHER PROJECTS WITHIN THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS.
HE DISCLOSED THAT A HOSPITAL COMPLEX AT SHATIN WITH 1,200 BEDS, A SUPPORTING POLYCLINIC AND A GENERAL CLINIC WOULD OPEN IN 1982/83.
IN ADDITION, THE TUEN MUN HOSPITAL WITH 1,200 BEDS AND A SUPPORTING POLYCLINIC WOULD OPEN IN 1983/84 AND A FURTHER FOUR CLINICS, ONE HEALTH CENTRE AND A POLYCLINIC PLANNED FOR OTHER AREAS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES AND EAST KOWLOON WOULD BE COMPLETED WITHIN THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS.
SIR MURRAY SAID, THOUGH THESE DEVELOPMENTS WILL REDUCE PRESSURE ON BOTH QUEEN MARY AND QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITALS, FURTHER THOUGHT IS BEING GIVEN TO SUPPLEMENTING THIS PROGRAMME WITH ADDITIONAL BEDS IN A NEW HOSPITAL IN EAST KOWLOON.+
THE GOVERNOR ALSO OUTLINED OTHER WAYS IN WHICH THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES CAN BE IMPROVED.
THEY ARE THE REGIONALISATION OF USE OF HOSPITAL BEDS AND MEDICAL FACILITIES, THE APPLICATION OF THE COMMUNITY NURSING, THE DRUG TREATMENT FACILITIES, THE SUPPLY OF DOCTORS, THE DENTAL SERVICES, THE REHABILITATION SERVICES AND POPULATION CONTROL.
SIR MURRAY SAID A MAJOR RE-ORGANISATION WOULD BE CARRIED OUT IN 1977 TO MAKE MORE EFFICIENT USE OF HOSPITAL BEDS AND MEDICAL FACILITIES AVAILABLE.
ON COMMUNITY NURSING, THE GOVERNOR SAID A WORKING PARTY TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE APPLICATION OF COMMUNITY NURSING AT PRESENT PROVIDED BY SOME VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS SHOULD BE EXPANDED OR MIGHT HELP TO EASE THE PRESSURE ON HOSPITAL BEDS HAD SUBMITTED A REPORT TO THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHOSE VIEWS THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER.
REFERRING TO FACILITIES FOR DRUG TREATMENT, HE SAID FOUR METHADONE MAINTENANCE CLINICS WERE OPENED IN DECEMBER 1974 AND MORE RECENTLY 14 DETOXIFICATION CLINICS.
/HE SAID: