SUNDAY, MAY 6, 1984
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IMPROVED SERVICES FOR EX-MENTAL PATIENTS
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IMPROVED HOSPITAL PROCEDURES AND AFTER-CARE SERVICES. TOGETHER WITH A MORE HEALTHY PUBLIC ATTITUDE TOWARDS MENTAL ILLNESS, ARE NOW HELPING THE GOVERNMENT TO COME TO GRIPS WITH THE PROBLEM OF EX-MENTAL PATIENTS WHO ARE ASSESSED TO BE DISPOSED TO VIOLENCE.
THIS IS THE RESULT OF CONSCIENTIOUS EFFORTS BY THE GOVERNMENT TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM FOLLOWING THE TRAGIC INCIDENT AT UN CHAU ESTATE ON JUNE 3, 1982 WHEN AN EX-MENTAL PATIENT FATALLY WOUNDED SEVERAL PEOPLE, INCLUDING SOME KINDERGARTEN CHILDREN.
THE WORK ING GROUP SET UP IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE INCIDENT MADE A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS LAST JUNE WHICH WERE GENERALLY SUPPORTED BY THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT SEVERAL OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS HAD ALREADY BEEN TRANSLATED INTO PRACTICE AND PROGRESS WAS BEING MADE IN THOSE AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT WHICH REQUIRED A LONGER LEAD TIME TO IMPLEMENT.
ONE OF THE FOREMOST RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WORKING GROUP WAS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CONFIDENTIAL CENTRAL REGISTER WHICH WOULD HAVE RECORDS OF ALL EX-MENTAL PATIENTS WHO HAVE A HISTORY OF CRIMINAL VIOLENCE OR ARE ASSESSED TO BE DISPOSED TO VIOLENCE.
THE REGISTER WAS SET UP IN OCTOBER 1982 AND NOW CONTAINS ABOUT 600 RECORDS OF PATIENTS IN THIS TARGET GROUP.
+ACCESS TO THE REGISTER IS POSSIBLE 24 HOURS A DAY, BUT FOR REASONS OF CONFIDENTIALITY IS RESTRICTED TO ESSENTIAL PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS OR FOR OPERATIONAL USE BY CONCERNED PARTIES, SUCH AS THE POLICE. THE RECORDS HAVE BEEN USEFUL FOR MONITORING AFTER-CARE TREATMENT AND PROVIDING PROMPT INFORMATION IN EMERGENCIES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE WORK ING GROUP RECOMMENDED THAT PATIENTS ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL SHOULD BE CAREFULLY ASSESSED TO IDENTIFY THOSE WITH A DISPOSITION TO VIOLENCE, AND THAT BEFORE DECIDING TO DISCHARGE A PATIENT IN THE TARGET GROUP, REPRESENTATIVES OF ALL THE DISCIPLINES IN CONTACT WITH HIM SHOULD MEET IN CONFERENCE TO DISCUSS THEIR ASSESSMENTS OF THE PATIENTS' PROGRESS AND FUTURE PROSPECTS.
THESE MULTI-DISCIPLINARY CASE CONFERENCES ARE BEING HELD AT KWAI CHUNG HOSPITAL AND ARE BEING INTRODUCED AT CASTLE PEAK HOSPITAL, ALTHOUGH SHORTAGES OF STAFF THERE HAVE IN SOME INSTANCES DELAYED THE PREPARATION OF CASE REPORTS AND MADE FULL CONFERENCES
IMPRACTICABLE.
FOLLOWING THEIR DISCHARGE, PATIENTS CONTINUE TO RECEIVE AFTER-CARE SERVICES AND THESE HAVE BEEN OR ARE BEING STRENGTHENED IN A NUMBER OF WAYS.
/ONE IMPORTANT