26
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1977
MORE HOSPITALS, CLINICS ON THE WAY
*****
A SERIES OF MAJOR MEDICAL PROJECTS WHICH WILL PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL 3,900 HOSPITAL BEDS AND MEDICAL TRAINING FACILITIES ARE TO BE COMPLETED IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, THE GOVERNOR SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE SAID TODAY.
THESE INCLUDE A 1,300-BED PSYCHIATRIC WING AT PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL BY 1980, A NEW DENTAL CENTRE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE TRAINING FOR DENTAL NURSES NEXT YEAR, AND A SCHOOL DENTAL CARE SERVICE WHICH WOULD BECOME OPERATIONAL IN 1980 WHEN THE SUPPLY OF TRAINED STAFF COMES ON STREAM.
THE GOVERNOR SAID SITE FORMATION WORK HAD ALSO STARTED FOR A 1,400-BED TEACHING HOSPITAL AT SHA TIN, AND AT TUEN MUN PREPARATORY WORK ON ANOTHER MAJOR HOSPITAL OF 1,200 BEDS WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN. THESE PROJECTS WILL BE COMPLETED BY 1982 AND 1983 RESPECTIVELY, HE SAID.
IN ADDITION, EIGHT NEW CLINICS AND POLYCLINICS WILL BE COMPLETED - SHATIN GENERAL CLINIC IN 1979, TUEN MUN POLYCLINIC STAGE I, NGAU TAU KOK AND LEI MUK SHU BY 1980, EAST KOWLOON BY 1981, SHA TIN POLYCLINIC BY 1982 AND HUNG HOM AND SHAM SHUI PO BY 1983.
SIR MURRAY SAID ALL THESE PROJECTS WOULD REQUIRE ADDITIONAL TRAINED STAFF, AND +PROGRESS IS BEING MAINTAINED IN PLANNING THE NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL AT THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY AND THE DENTAL SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG.+
A THIRD GOVERNMENT NURSES TRAINING SCHOOL, HE ADDED, WOULD ALSO BE OPENED IN 1982/83.
IN ADDITION, A HEALTH SERVICES DIVISION IS BEING ESTABLISHED AT THE POLYTECHNIC TO PROVIDE COURSES TO TRAIN PARAMEDICAL PERSONNEL, INCLUDING PHYSIOTHERAPISTS, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIANS AND RADIOGRAPHERS. THE FIRST OF THESE COURSES WILL BEGIN IN 1978, HE SAID.
LOOKING BACK OVER THE YEAR, THE GOVERNOR NOTED THAT THE MEASURES TAKEN BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO IMPROVE SERVICES FOR THE PUBLIC WERE MEETING THE IR OBJECTIVES, AND THERE WERE ENCOURAGING RESULTS OF THE REORGANISATION OF SERVICES ON A REGIONAL BASIS INTRODUCED IN APRIL.
+PRESSURE ON THE TWO MAJOR REGIONAL HOSPITALS, THE QUEEN MARY AND THE QUEEN ELIZABETH, HAS BEEN REDUCED. CAMP BEDS IN THESE TWO HOSPITALS HAVE AT LAST BEEN VIRTUALLY ELIMINATED, AND BED OCCUPANCY IN THE VARIOUS DISTRICT HOSPITALS, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE SUBVENTED SECTOR, HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY, + SIR MURRAY SAID. +THIS IS PRECISELY WHAT WAS INTENDED.+
/PRINCESS