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FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 1977
CONVERSION OF GRANTHAM HOSPITAL
INTO A CARD 10 THORACIC CENTRE MOST OPPORTUNE
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THE GOVERNMENT IS ACTIVELY CONSIDERING A PROPOSAL TO CONVERT GRANTHAM HOSPITAL, WHICH IS ONE OF TWO MAIN HOSPITALS IN HONG KONG FOR TREATING TUBERCULOSIS, INTO A MAJOR CARDIO THORACIC CENTRE.
THIS WAS STATED TODAY BY THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. K.L. THONG, AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE HONG KONG ANTI-TUBERCULOSIS AND THORACIC DISEASES ASSOCIATION, OF WHICH HE IS THE PRESIDENT.
HE SAID THE PROPOSAL WAS ONE OF THE MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS BY TWO CHEST DISEASE EXPERTS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM, PROFESSOR J. SCADDING AND DR. WALLACE FOX, WHO HAD EARLIER VISITED HONG KONG TO ADVISE ON THE PLANNING AND METHODS OF CONTROL AND TREATMENT OF TUBERCULOSIS.
DR. THONG SAID WITH THE DECREASING INCIDENCE OF TUBERCULOS IS AND THE AVAILABILITY OF EFFECTIVE OUT-PATIENT THERAPY THE NUMBER OF BEDS REQUIRED FOR THE TREATMENT OF TUBERCULOSIS HAD GREATLY DIMINISHED.
ON THE OTHER HAND, HE SAID, BOTH THE NEED AND THE DEMAND FOR TREATMENT FACILITIES FOR CHEST AND CARDIAC CONDITIONS WOULD BE INCREASING PROGRESSIVELY.
+ THUS THE EVOLUTION OF THE GRANTHAM HOSPITAL INTO A CARD 10 THORACIC CENTRE AT THIS TIME IS MOST APPROPRIATE, HE SAID.
THE PRELIMINARY COSTING OF THE PROJECT IS IN THE ORDER OF $22 MILLION FOR CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AND $16.9 MILLION FOR ADDITIONAL RECURRENT EXPENDITURE.
THE PROPOSED PROJECT ENVISAGES THE BUILDING OF A FIVE-STOREY EXTENSION TO THE HOSPITAL TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL OPERATING THEATRES, A CARDIAC LABORATORY AND OTHER SERVICE UNITS AS WELL AS MODIFICATION OF SOME EXISTING ROOMS TO TURN THEM INTO INTENSIVE CARE UNITS.
THE FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED WILL ENABLE THE HOSPITAL TO INCREASE ITS OPEN HEART OPERATIONS, CLOSED HEART OPERATIONS, AND TO PROVIDE CARDIAC INVESTIGATORY FACILITIES AS WELL AS OUT-PATIENT SERVICES,
DR. THONG SAID A DEVELOPMENT OF SUCH MAGNITUDE WOULD NATURALLY REQUIRE CONSIDERABLE FINANCIAL RESOURCES.
IT IS ENVISAGED THAT A JOINT EFFORT WILL BE MADE BY THE HONG KONG HEART FOUNDATION AND THE HONG KONG ANTI-TUBERCULOSIS AND THORACIC DISEASES ASSOCIATION TO GATHER ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT BY FUND RAISING ACTIVITIES IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
THE DERICTOR