THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1979
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+IN FACT, MOST OF THE ASSISTED HOSPITALS ARE NOW BEING SUBSIDISED ON A DEFICIENCY BASIS, WHICH MEANS THE GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION MEETS IN FULL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TOTAL APPROVED EXPENDITURE AND THE INCOME OF THE HOSPITALS, SO AS TO ENSURE THAT THE STANDARD OF MEDICAL CARE IN THE SUBVENTED HOSPITALS BE QUITE SIMILAR TO THOSE IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS, HE ADDED.
DR. THONG REVEALED THAT A MASTER INVENTORY OF HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT AND INSTRUMENTS IN ALL HOSPITALS WITH A VIEW TO PRODUCING A CO-ORDINATED SCHEDULE FOR ONGOING REPLACEMENT OF EQUIPMENT AT APPROPRIATE TIMES WOULD SOON BE ESTABLISHED.
+SUCH A SCHEDULE WOULD ENSURE THE REPLACEMENT OF WORN-OUT AND OUT-DATED EQUIPMENT AND THE MAXIMAL POSSIBLE USE OF ALL RESOURCES,+ HE SAID.
IN THE MEANTIME, HE SAID, CONCRETE STEPS WERE BEING TAKEN TO IMPROVE AND EXPAND FACILITIES AND ACCOMMODATION IN MAJOR HOSPITALS.
IN QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL, A NEW PROJECT CONSISTING OF AN EIGHT-STOREY EXTENSION INCORPORATING A NEW PAEDIATRIC DEPARTMENT CORONARY CARE FACILITIES AND A NEW PATHOLOGY BUILDING IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMMISSIONED BY 1983.
IN QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL, PLANS ARE IN THE PIPELINE TO BUILD A NEW SEPARATE 600-BED ANNEX INCORPORATING OPERATING THEATRES, HAEMODIALYSIS, ORAL SURGERY AND A BURNS UNIT,
DR. THONG REASSURED THAT THE SUBSIDISED SECTOR WAS NOT NEGLECTED IN THIS RESPECT.
THE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID, RECENTLY APPROVED FUNDS FOR THE EXTENSION OF THE YAN CHAI HOSPITAL AT TSUEN WAN, REPROVISIONING OF OPERATING THEATRES AND OTHER SUPPORT FACILITIES OF THE CARITAS MEDICAL CENTRE, CONVERSION OF THE GRANTHAM HOSPITAL INTO A CARDIO- THORACIC CENTRE, AND EXTENSION AND IMPROVEMENTS IN THE POK OI HOSPITAL AND THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS.
ON NEW FACILITIES, DR. THONG SAID A 1 300-BED PSYCHIATRIC WING OF PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL WILL BE COMPLETED AND BROUGHT INTO USE NEXT YEAR AND WORK ON THE 1 400-BED SHA TIN TEACHING HOSPITAL WILL BEGIN SHORTLY.
IN ADDITION TO A 1 300-BED HOSPITAL IN TUEN MUN AND ANOTHER MAJOR HOSPITAL IN EAST KOWLOON, THERE WERE ALSO PLANS TO BUILD AT LEAST 15 CLINICS/HEALTH CENTRES DURING THE 'BOS, HE ADDED.
+GIVEN THE RESOURCES, AT THE APPROPRIATE TIMES, THE PROGRAMMES WHICH I HAVE MENTIONED FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE EXISTING SERVICES AS WELL AS FOR NEW FACILITIES, SHOULD ENSURE THAT THE QUALITY AND STANDARD OF OUR MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES WOULD NOT ONLY BE MAINTAINED, BUT ALSO IMPROVED SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE YEARS TO COME,+ HE SAID.
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