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SUNDAY, MAY 8, 1977.
MOVE TO ELIMINATE USE OF TEMPORARY BEDS AT Q.M.H.
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THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN GIVEN SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS TO MAKE USE OF ADDITIONAL BEDS IN TWO GOVERNMENT SUBVENTED HOSPITALS IN AN EFFORT TO ELIMINATE THE USE OF TEMPORARY BEDS AT THE QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL.
THE ALLOCATION OF EXTRA FUNDS WILL ENABLE THE DEPARTMENT TO BRING A FURTHER 106 BEDS INTO USE AT THE NEW CENTENARY BUILDING OF THE TUNG WAH HOSPITAL AND TO CONVERT 90 BEDS AT GRANTHAM HOSPITAL TO PROVIDE CONVALESCENT BEDS. IT WILL ALSO ENABLE THE TUNG WAH HOSPITAL TO RECRUIT MORE STAFF, INCLUDING DOCTORS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS THE POLICY IN THE CASUALTY DEPARTMENTS OF GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS NEVER TO REFUSE ADMISSION TO THE HOSPITAL IF THIS IS REQUIRED ON MEDICAL GROUNDS.
THIS, HE SAID, CONTRIBUTED TO A SITUATION WHERE PERMANENT BEDS BECAME INADEQUATE AND TEMPORARY BEDS HAD TO BE PUT UP IN THE WARDS SO THAT NO ONE REQUIRING IN-PATIENT TREATMENT HAD TO BE TURNED AWAY.
AT QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL, THE DAILY NUMBER OF ADMISSIONS AT ABOUT 150 HAS RESULTED IN BETWEEN 80 AND 100 TEMPORARY BEDS BEING USE AT ANY ONE TIME.
+THESE TEMPORARY BEDS CREATE CONSIDERABLE OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS, AND WE ARE DETERMINED TO ELIMINATE THE USE OF THESE BEDS BY ADOPTING VARIOUS MEASURES TO ACCOMMODATE CONVALESCENT PATIENTS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT WITH THE USE OF 196 EXTRA BEDS AT TUNG WAH AND GRANTHAM HOSPITALS TO ACCOMMODATE CONVALESCENT PATIENTS FROM QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL, IT WOULD GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS ELIMINATING TEMPORARY BEDS AT THIS MAJOR GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL.
THE REGIONALISATION OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, WHICH CAME INTO OPERATION ON APRIL 1 THIS YEAR, WILL ENSURE THE OPTIMUM USE OF FACILITIES, PARTICULARLY HOSPITAL BEDS WITHIN THE WHOLE SYSTEM OF MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS IN EACH REGION,
IN KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE 1977/78 BUDGET ESTIMATES PROVIDE FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE BUDDHIST HOSPITAL AND THE POK OF HOSPITAL TO DEFICIENCY GRANT BASIS TO SUPPORT QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL AND PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL RESPECTIVELY.
/WITH REGARD