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SUNDAY, MAY 15, 1983
BOOST TO MEDICAL FACILITIES IN YUEN LONG
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POK OF IS TO BE DEVELOPED INTO A MAJOR DISTRICT HOSPITAL. PROVIDING A WIDE RANGE OF TREATMENT FACILITIES TO YUEN LONG AND NEARBY AREAS.
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED THE EXPANSION PROJECT, AND WORK IS DUE TO START LATER THIS YEAR FOR COMPLETION BY 1986/87.
THE EXTENSION WILL DOUBLE THE HOSPITAL'S BED CAPACITY FROM THE EXISTING 218 TO 420 BEDS, PROVIDING A MUCH NEEDED BOOST TO MEDICAL COVERAGE IN THE WEST NEW TERRITORIES.
+THE REDEVELOPMENT OF POK OI HOSPITAL WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS STRENGTHENING MEDICAL FACILITIES IN THE REGION,+ A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.
BASED ON POPULATION PROJECTIONS IN THE NEW TOWNS, HE SAID, IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT BY 1991 THERE WOULD BE A SHORTFALL OF ABOUT 1 200 HOSPITAL BEDS IN THE REGION.
*AS PART OF THE OVERALL PLAN TO MEET DEMAND, ADDITIONAL
THE BEDS ARE TO BE PROVIDED AT POK 01. AT THE SAME TIME EXISTING FACILITIES WILL BE UPGRADED TO ENABLE IT TO FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY AS A DISTRICT HOSPITAL IN SUPPORT OF OTHER MEDICAL FACILITIES IN THE REGION, HE SAID.
AT PRESENT, POK OI HOSPITAL - WHICH BEGAN AS A SMALL CHINESE HERBALIST CLINIC SOME 60 YEARS AGO PROVIDES IN-PATIENT SERVICES FOR MEDICAL, SURGICAL, PAEDIATRIC, GYNAECOLOGICAL AND MATERNITY CASES, GENERAL AND SPECIALIST OUT-PATIENT SERVICES AND A LIMITED CASUALTY SERVICE.
ITS REDEVELOPMENT WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN STAGES. WITH THE GOVERNMENT TAKING UP 80 PER CENT OF THE CONSTRUCTION COST AND POK OF ABSORBING THE REST.
THE RECURRENT COSTS WILL BE MET BY THE GOVERNMENT ON A DEFICIENCY GRANT BASIS.
MAJOR FEATURES OF THE EXTENSION PROGRAMME INCLUDE:
* AN ADDITIONAL FIVE STOREYS ON TOP OF THE HOSPITAL'S
CENTRAL WING TO PROVIDE 113 BEDS, A NEW OPERATING THEATRE SUITE AND OFFICE SPACE:
* FOUR MORE STOREYS ON TOP OF THE NORTH WING FOR AN X-RAY DEPARTMENT, A CLINICAL LABORATORY, PHYSIOTHERAPY AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY DEPARTMENTS, LAUNDRY, A CENTRAL STERILISING SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT AND OTHER ANCILLARY FACILITIES;
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