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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1977
MOVES TO ALLEVIATE OVERCROWDED CONDITIONS
IN CASTLE PEAK HOSPITAL
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THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. THE HON. K.L. THONG, SAID TODAY THAT MEASURES WERE BEING TAKEN TO ALLEVIATE THE PRESENT OVERCROWDED CONDITIONS IN THE CASTLE PEAK HOSPITAL.
THESE MEASURES, HE SAID, INCLUDED THE RENOVATION OF THE OLD LAI CHI KOK HOSPITAL TO PROVIDE 300 BEDS FOR PSYCHIATRIC CASES AND THE ADDITION OF 100 BEDS TO THE PSYCHIATRIC UNIT OF KOWLOON HOSPITAL.
DR. THONG ADDED THAT PLANS WERE UNDER CONSIDERATION TO PROVIDE DORMITORY ACCOMMODATION FOR 90 CASES AT THE CASTLE PEAK HOSPITAL
ITESELF.
THE DIRECTOR WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. OSWALD CHEUNG AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING THIS AFTERNOON. MR. CHEUNG HAD ASKED IF MORE PSYCHIATRIC BEDS COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR USE IN THE ACUTE HOSPITALS UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE NEW PSYCHIATRIC WING OF PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL IS FULLY OPERATIONAL.
DR. THONG TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT THE THREE MAJOR GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS, QUEEN MARY, QUEEN ELIZABETH AND THE GENERAL WING OF PRINCESS MARGARET, WERE ALREADY FULLY UTILISED AND, THEREFORE, IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE TO USE THE ACUTE BEDS FOR PSYCHIATRIC CASES.
IN REPLY TO TWO OTHER QUESTIONS FROM MR. CHEUNG, HE SAID THAT AT THE END OF 1976 A TOTAL OF 2,119 PATIENTS WERE UNDER TREATMENT AT CASTLE PEAK HOSPITAL WHERE THE BED CAPACITY WAS 1,921.
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PATIENTS ADMITTED INTO THE HOSPITAL DURING 1976 WAS 3,854, AND THE NUMBER OF DISCHARGES, INCLUDING DEATHS, IN THE SAME PÉRIOD WAS 3,842.
IN ANSWER TO A QUESTION BY DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG, DR. THONG SAID THAT 245 CASES HAD BEEN ADMITTED INTO THE SIU LAM HOSPITAL SINCE ITS OPENING IN 1972 AND THE NUMBER OF CASES DISCHARGED
INCLUDING DEATHS WAS 46.
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