WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 1978
PLANS TO EXPAND INSTITUTIONAL CARE FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED
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THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, THE HON. THOMAS LEE, SAID TODAY THE NUMBER OF INSTITUTIONAL PLACES FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED WOULD BE MORE THAN DOUBLE THE EXISTING LEVEL BY 1984.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE REV. THE HON. JOYCE M. BENNETT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE SAID THERE WOULD BE 270 EXTRA RESIDENTIAL PLACES FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED NEXT YEAR, AND BY 1984, THE TOTAL CAPACITY WOULD BE INCREASED TO 3,380.
THE PRESENT PROVISION, HE SAID, INCLUDED 440 PLACES FOR THE SEVERE GRADE AND 630 PLACES FOR THE MODERATELY RETARDED.
MR. LEE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS AWARE THERE WAS STILL A SHORTAGE OF INSTITUTIONAL PLACES FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED AND EVERY EFFORT WAS BEING MADE BOTH WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT AND IN THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR TO PUSH AHEAD WITH PLANS TO EXPAND THE SERVICE.
HE SAID PLANS TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE MULTI-DISCIPLINARY CARE WOULD HELP TO MEET THE COMPLEX PROBLEMS OF SOME OF THE MORE DIFFICULT CASES.
+CONSIDERATION IS BEING GIVEN TO THE PROVISION OF A WIDER RANGE OF SPECIALIST SERVICES BOTH INSIDE INSTITUTIONS AND
IN OTHER SUPPORTING FACILITIES SO THAT CLIENTS WITH SPECIAL OR MULTIPLE PROBLEMS OR CLIENTS WITH MORE THAN ONE DISABILITY CAN BE MORE SUITABLY LOOKED AFTER IN FUTURE,+ HE SAID.
WITH REGARD TO INSTITUTIONAL FACILITY SPECIALLY FOR THOSE MENTALLY RETARDED PERSONS WHO WERE A THREAT TO OTHERS, MR. LEE SAID THERE WAS NO PROVISION UNDER THE REHABILITATION PROGRAMME PLAN OR THE REHABILITATION WHITE PAPER.
IN THE FIRST PLACE, HE POINTED OUT, THERE ARE RATHER FEW CASES LIKE THIS TO JUSTIFY A SEPARATE FACILITY, AND THERE ARE VARIOUS OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR DEALING WITH THEM.
HE EXPLAINED THAT IF A PERSON'S VIOLENT OR DISORDERLY BEHAVIOUR WAS DUE TO SOME MENTAL ILLNESS, HE COULD BE DETAINED AND TREATED IN A MENTAL HOSPITAL.
IF IT IS MAINLY A BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEM, THEN THE CASE CAN BE DEALT WITH IN A CORRECTIONAL HOME BY MAKING SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT FOR INDIVIDUAL SUPERVISION, HE SAID.
ON THE OTHER HAND, HE ADDED, IF WHAT THE PERSON REQUIRES IS TRAINING IN DISCIPLINE AND SELF-CARE, THEN A CENTRE FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED COULD PROVIDE THE SERVICE NEEDED DEPENDING ON THE DEGREE OF RETARDATION.
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