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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1980
GOVERNMENT ASKED TO ACT ON REHABILITATION PLAN
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DR THE HON HARRY FANG TODAY EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER DELAY IN PROVIDING FUNDS TO IMPLEMENT A NUMBER OF SERVICES IDENTIFIED IN THE REHABILITATION PROGRAMME PLAN.
AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HE SAID ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WAS TO ESTABLISH A NEW SELECTIVE PLACEMENT SERVICE FOR DISABLED JOB SEEKERS IN APRIL THIS YEAR.
+SEVEN MONTHS AFTER A DRAFT ESTABLISHMENT SUB-COMMITTEE PAPER HAD BEEN AGREED BY THE POLICY BRANCH AND THE DEPARTMENT CONCERNED, WE ARE STILL NO FURTHER FORWARD.+
ANOTHER PROPOSAL TO CREATE ADDITIONAL PHYSIOTHERAPY AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY POSTS APPEARS TO HAVE SUFFERED THE SAME FATE, HE ADDED.
HE WISHED TO KNOW WHEN THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WOULD BE REQUESTED TO APPROVE FUNDS FOR THESE PURPOSES.
HE ALSO CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE THE LEAD IN EMPLOYING DISABLED GRADUATES FROM THE TWO UNIVERSITIES +IF WE ARE TO REAP THE FULL BENEFITS OF THE CONSIDERABLE EFFORTS, TIME AND MONEY THAT WE ARE DEVOTING TO THE REHABILITATION PROGRAMME.+
ON SUBVENTED HOSPITALS, DR FANG SAID THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES HAD PROPOSED TO UPGRADE A NUMBER OF SUCH HOSPITALS TO ACUTE GENERAL HOSPITAL STATUS.
IF THIS AIM TO SHARE THE LOAD OF THE OVERSTRETCHED GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS - IS TO BE ACHIEVED, HE SAID, ADEQUATE FUNDS MUST BE MADE AVAILABLE TO ENABLE THEM TO IMPROVE THEIR STAFF STANDARDS AND FACILITIES,
DR FANG THEN CALLED FOR EXPANSION OF SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY, POINTING OUT THAT AT LEAST 1 000 HOSPITAL BEDS ARE OCCUPIED BY +CHRONICALLY OLD PATIENTS+.
HE EXPLAINED THAT THESE PATIENTS ARE ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO ARE SENILE MENTALLY AND/OR PHYSICALLY AND CAN BE QUITE ADEQUATELY LOOKED AFTER IN CARE AND ATTENTION HOMES WITH SOME NURSING SUPERVISION.
+SURELY IT IS BOTH SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY SOUND TO BUILD MORE CARE AND ATTENTION HOMES FOR THESE ELDERLY PATIENTS, THUS RELEASING OUR MUCH NEEDED HOSPITAL BEDS FOR THOSE WHO REQUIRE MEDICAL OR SURGICAL TREATMENT.+
HE SUGGESTED THAT THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT. RATHER THAN THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RUNNING OF THESE HOMES, EITHER AS A DIRECT SERVICE OR AS A SUBVENTED SERVICE.
/HE UPGEL
J