SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 1979'
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COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE TO BE EXPANDED
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THE GOVERNMENT IS TO FURTHER DEVELOP THE COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE BY TAKING A LEADING ROLE IN THE TRAINING OF COMMUNITY NURSES.
STATING THIS TODAY (SUNDAY), A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAID A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMME HAS BEEN DRAWN UP TO TRAIN 350 REGISTERED AND ENROLLED NURSES OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
POINTING OUT THAT THE SERVICE HAS CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO MEETING HONG KONG'S MEDICAL NEEDS, HE SAID THAT MORE THAN 10,000 PEOPLE HAD BENEFITTED FROM IT DURING THE PAST TWO YEARS.
AT PRESENT, THERE ARE 50 COMMUNITY NURSES LOOKING AFTER THOSE PATIENTS LIVING IN THE URBAN AREAS WHO DO NOT REQUIRE HOSPITAL CARE BUT HAVE DIFFICULTY IN ATTENDING CLINICS.
THE EXPANSION PROGRAMME WILL ENABLE THE SERVICE TO EXTEND TO ALL URBAN AREAS AND NEW TOWNS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AS WELL, THE SPOKESMAN STATED.
*WHEN THE SERVICE IS IN FULL SWING, IT WILL NOT ONLY BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN HOSPITALS AND HOMES BUT ALSO HELP TO RELIEVE THE PRESSURE ON THE MUCH NEEDED HOSPITAL BEDS,+ HE STRESSED.
THE COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE WAS PIONEERED BY SIX VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS AS A PILOT SCHEME.
ON APRIL 1, 1977, THE GOVERNMENT AGREED TO SUPPORT THE
SERVICE FOR AN ÉVALUATION PERIOD OF THREE YEARS.
HOWEVER, AFTER A TWO-YEAR ASSESSMENT, THE GOVERNMENT DECIDED NOT ONLY TO SUPPORT THE SCHEME WITH FULL SUBVENTION BUT ALSO TAKE A LEADING ROLE IN TRAINING COMMUNITY NURSES.
+THE SERVICE PROVIDES AN EFFICIENT HEALTH CARE FOR THE SICK, THE DISABLED AND THE ELDERLY WHO ARE CONFINED TO THEIR HOMES,+ THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.
+IT ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR OWN TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION WITH THE HELP OF THEIR FAMILIES AS WELL AS TO PREVENT RELAPSE BY SUPPORTIVE CARE AND HEALTH EDUCATION. +
BESIDES THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THERE ARE AT PRESENT SEVEN OTHER VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS SUPPLYING A UNIFIED COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE WITH STANDARDISED PROCEDURE FOR REFERRAL AND CARE.
THE SEVEN ORGANISATIONS ARE THE NETHERSOLE HOSPITAL, CARITAS MEDICAL CENTRE, UNITED CHRISTIAN HOSPITAL, OUR LADY OF MÁRYKNOLL HOSPITAL, YANG SOCIAL SERVICE CENTRE, RENNIE'S MILL CHRISTIAN MEDICAL CENTRE AND THE KWONG WAH HOSPITAL.
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