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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 1989
2 % OF BEDS OCCUPIED BY TERMINAL CANCER PATIENTS
ABOUT TWO PER CENT OF THE HOSPITAL BEDS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR ARE CURRENTLY OCCUPIED BY CANCER PATIENTS IN THE TERMINAL STAGE OF THEIR ILLNESS.
CHAU, TOLD
ΤΟ A
THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON T.H. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS TODAY ( WEDNESDAY) WHEN REPLYING QUESTION FROM THE HON PAUL CHENG ON HOSPICE CARE IN HONG KONG.
AT PRESENT, MR CHAU SAID, HOSPICE CARE WAS AVAILABLE NAM LONG HOSPITAL, OUR LADY OF MARYKNOLL HOSPITAL, HAVEN HOSPITAL AND THE UNITED CHRISTIAN HOSPITAL.
IN THE OF HOPE
"WHILE SOME OF THIS SERVICE IS SUBVENTED BY THE GOVERNMENT · SOME 19 SUPPORTED BY FUNDS OBTAINED BY THE ORGANISATIONS THEMSELVES, HE SAID.
"THERE ARE ALSO TWO VOLUNTEER VISITING SCHEMES FOR TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS IN QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL AND THE PRINCE OF WALES HOSPITAL.
MR CHAU EXPLAINED THAT THE CONCEPT OF HOSPICE CARE WAS "TO PROVIDE BETTER CARE FOR THE TERMINALLY ILL, MAINLY CANCER PATIENTS, THE NEEDS OF WHOM IN TERMS OF EMOTIONAL, SPIRITUAL AND MEDICAL SUPPORT ARE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PATIENTS WHO ARE ABLE TO LOOK FORWARD TO RECOVERY."
HE NOTED THAT THE SUBJECT OF HOSPICE CARE WAS CONSIDERED BY THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN 1987.
THE COMMITTEE'S ADVICE WAS THAT WHILE, IN PRINCIPLE, HOSPICE CARE SHOULD BE INTRODUCED IN HONG KONG, IT COULD BEST BE PROVIDED THROUGH SUBVENTION TO VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.
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ANOTHER SUGGESTION WAS THAT A PILOT SCHEME COULD BE SET ONE OR TWO REGIONAL GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS ΤΟ CO-ORDINATE EFFORTS IN IMPROVING CARE PROVIDED TO THE TERMINALLY ILL.
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