SUNDAY, JANUARY 23. 1983
RUTTONJEE SANATORIUM TO BE REDEVELOPED
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WORK WILL SHORTLY BEGIN TO REDEVELOP THE RUTTONJEE SANATOR JUM FROM AN ANTI-TUBERCULOSIS INSTITUTION INTO A GENERAL HOSPITAL PROVIDING MUCH NEEDED ACUTE BEDS FOR RESIDENTS ON HONG KONG ISLAND.
FUNDS HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR THE EXTENSIVE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT TO BE CARRIED OUT IN THREE PHASES UNTIL SCHEDULED COMPLETION IN 1988.
THE CAPITAL COST OF THE PROJECT IS ESTIMATED AT $158 MILLION, WITH THE GOVERNMENT ALLOCATING $127 MILLION AND THE REST TO BE RAISED BY THE HONG KONG TUBERCULOSIS, CHEST AND HEART DISEASES ASSOCIATION WHICH RUNS THE SANATORIUM.
THE 280-BED RUTTONJEE SANATORIUM WILL BE UPGRADED INTO A 432-BED HOSPITAL WITH PROVISION FOR THE BED-CAPACITY TO BE INCREASED TO 600.
PLANS FOR REDEVELOPMENT OF THE SANATORIUM WERE CONSIDERED AND ENDORSED BY THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE DURING RECENT REVIEWS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THE CONTINUING EFFORTS OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE ASSOCIATION, COUPLED WITH IMPROVED SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS HAD CONTRIBUTED TO THE DECLINE OF TB CASES.
HAVING CONSIDERED THE FUTURE ROLE OF THE SANATORIUM IN THE PROVISION OF MEDICAL CARE FOR THE COMMUNITY, THE ASSOCIATION PROPOSED TO REDEVELOP THE COMPLEX TO PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO THE TANG SHIU KIN HOSPITAL. PLANS CALL FOR THE NEW HOSPITAL TO HAVE 190 BEDS FOR TB AND CHEST, 114 BEDS PLUS 50 DAY PLACES FOR GERIATRICS, 64 BEDS FOR MEDICAL CASES AND ANOTHER 64 BEDS FOR SURGERY, MAKING A TOTAL OF 432 BEDS, HE SAID.
AT PRESENT MOST PATIENTS TREATED AT THE CASUALTY DEPARTMENT AT TANG SHIU KIN HOSPITAL WHO REQUIRE HOSPITALISATION ARE ADMITTED TO QUEEN MARY OR TUNG WAH EASTERN HOSPITAL.
IT WAS DECIDED THAT A MORE COMPREHENSIVE AND SYSTEMATIC HOSPITAL SUPPORT COULD BE PROVIDED THROUGH THE ADDITION OF ACUTE BEDS IN THE REDEVELOPED RUTTON JEE SANATORIUM, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
WHEN THE REDEVELOPED HOSPITAL COMES INTO OPERATION, ONLY PATIENTS REQUIRING HIGHLY-SPECIALISED HOSPITAL CARE WOULD BE REFERRED TO QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL, THE REGIONAL HOSPITAL, HE ADDED.
THE FIRST PHASE OF THE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT WILL CONSIST OF DEMOLITION OF SEVERAL OLD BUILDINGS, TEMPORARY WORKS, SITE FORMATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF SENIOR STAFF QUARTERS.
THE SECOND PHASE WILL INVOLVE THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE THREE MAIN BLOCKS OF THE NEW HOSPITAL, TWO OF WHICH WILL BE TEN- STOREYS HIGH, AND BUILDING THE MAIN APPROACH ROAD AND WORK ON THE GARDEN.
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