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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1993
THIS YEAR, THE WAITING TIME FOR ADMISSION TO HOSTELS FOR THE SEVERELY DISABLED HAD BEEN CUT BY 20 PER CENT.
"THIS IS A GOOD START."
THE GOVERNOR SAID THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE WOULD BE LOOKING FOR FURTHER PRACTICAL MEASURES TO REDUCE WAITING TIMES WHICH CAN BE TAKEN IN THE COMING YEAR.
THESE COULD INCLUDE MOBILISING COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR EXPANSION SERVICES THROUGH NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS AND THE PROMOTION OF OPEN OR SELF-EMPLOYMENT.
OF
A SECURE OLD AGE NEEDED
A SPECIAL WORKING GROUP WHICH WILL REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE GOVERNOR ON THE PROVISION OF MORE INTEGRATED CARE FOR THE ELDERLY WILL BE SET UP.
THIS WAS REVEALED BY THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN IN HIS SECOND ANNUAL ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
AREAS:
HE
*
HE
ON
SAID HE WANTED THE NEW WORKING GROUP TO LOOK AT TWO OTHER
WHETHER CURRENT LEVELS OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES ARE SUFFICIENT; AND
WHAT ELSE THE GOVERNMENT COULD DO TO ENABLE THE ELDERLY ΤΟ LEAD THEIR OWN LIVES AND TO REMAIN IN THE COMMUNITY, CLOSE TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
AT
SAID APART FROM THIS WORKING GROUP, WORK HAD TO STARTED ONCE
AN INTERIM BUT FAR-REACHING PROGRAMME TO TACKLE THE MOST SERIOUS SHORTFALLS IN EXISTING SERVICES.
IN MID-1997, NEARLY 11 PER CENT OF THE POPULATION WILL BE 65 AND OVER, MEANING AN EXTRA 87,000 ELDERLY MEN AND WOMEN NEEDED BE LOOKED AFTER.
AGED
ΤΟ
OF THEM, 44,000 MEN AND WOMEN WILL BE AGED 75 AND OVER MANY THEM VERY FRAIL OR UNABLE TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY.
OF
MR PATTEN SAID ADVANCES IN MEDICINE WOULD MAKE IT INCREASINGLY POSSIBLE ΤΟ PROLONG THE LIVES OF THE ELDERLY, EVEN AFTER SERIOUS ILLNESSES, BUT ONLY AT VERY CONSIDERABLE COST IN TERMS OF EXPENSIVE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY AND HOSPITAL CARE.
HE REASSURED THE ELDERLY COMMUNITY THAT :
THE PROVISION OF HOSPITAL FACILITIES FOR ACUTE GERIATRIC CASES HAS BEEN MADE AN URGENT PRIORITY; AND
/* BY 1997,