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SUB-HEAD 68. This expenditure will not be incurred unless it seems likely that the new Infectious Diseases Hospital will be completed during the year.
SUB-HEADS 69 and 71.-These sub-heads have been transferred from Head 60,
Air Raid Precautions, in order to ensure better administrative control.
SUB-HEADS 78, 79 and 80.-These sub-heads formerly appeared under Head 5, Charitable Services, and although they swell the expenditure under Head 16, it is considered more fitting that they should be shown under that Head. The only increase is in the case of the grant-in-aid to the Tung Wah and Associated Hos- pitals. In the 1940-41 Estimates the amount provided was $350,000 but this was a token sum because when the Estimates were framed it was not possible to estimate accurately the anticipated deficit of the Tung Wah for the fifteen months ending 31st March, 1941. It was later estimated that the deficit would be $749,011 for the fifteen months and a further sum of $399,011 was provided by supplementary vote in Finance Message No. 10 of 1940-41. Government's total subventions to the Tung Wah in 1939 and 1940-41 have been $400,000 and $749,011 respective- ly and although it has not yet been possible to estimate the exact amount of the anticipated deficit of the Tung Wah for the twelve months April, 1941, to March, 1942, it is proposed to earmark a maximum subvention of $750,000 in respect of that period,
Personal Emoluments.
Increases of staff for the purpose of new or increased activities have been provided for in the Estimates. The most important of these new posts are:—
A. STAFF.
Hospital Division.
1 Surgical Specialist. It is proposed to institute this post at a fixed salary of £1,200 per annum. Such a post is a usual one in several Crown Colonies and would act as a valuable incentive to younger medical officers who at present can only look to a transfer to another colony if they specialize in surgery.
1 Chinese Opthalmic Surgeon. The need for this post has been stressed by the University authorities and by the Inspecting Officer of the General Council of Medical Education. It has been ascertained that ten per cent of the population suffer from trachoma, an infectious condition often attended by serious consequences when left untreated.
1 Chinese Dental Inspector. One of the main duties of this officer would be the enforcement of the Registration of Dentists Ordinance, 1940. It is estimated that the fees from the registration of dentists would more than cover his emolu-
ments.
1 Probationer Masseuse.
1 Radiographic Assistant.
These additional appointments are needed in view of the heavy demands made upon the Radium, X-Ray, Electro-Therapy and Massage Department; such officers require four years' training before they become really useful.
1 Senior Nursing Sister.-This post is required so that an additional Tutor Sister can be appointed to assist the present Tutor Sister in the training of nurses.
2 Nursing Sisters. These two posts are required for the tuberculosis wards which it is proposed to erect on the roof of the Queen Mary Hospital.
5 Probationer Nurses. One of these is required to assist the Home Sister who is responsible for the welfare of the 140 Sisters and Nurses living at the Queen Mary Hospital. The other four are required for the new tuberculosis wards and (like the 2 Nursing Sisters mentioned above and any other staff for the tuberculosis wards) will not be appointed unless these wards are erected.
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2 Probationer Dressers.-Required for the new tuberculosis wards.
1 Female Clerk and Storekeeper. The work in the linen store, Queen Mary Hospital, has increased considerably in recent years owing to the expansion of hospital activities in Hong Kong.
1 Hospital Indian Warder.-One Hospital Indian Warder was transferred from the Prison Hospital to the Victoria Remand Home in the old Victoria Gaol premises and the vacancy in the Prison Hospital has been temporarily filled by the second- ment of one Prison Warder who will be paid from Medical Department funds as from 1st April, 1941.
3 Warder Dressers.-These appointments have already been made for the isola- tion block for lepers outside Stanley Prison which was opened on 1st April, 1940; they now appear in the Estimates for the first time.
2 Assistant Almoners. In view of their extended activities the Out Patient Departments at the old Government Civil Hospital and at Kowloon Hospital have now been brought under the vigilance of the Almoner Department; two additional posts are required to cope with this work.
5 Probationer Dispensers.-Owing to the expansion of the Medical Department it is considered essential that five Probationer Dispensers should commence training as soon as possible so that trained Dispensers can be released for work in the various sub-departments.
Chinese Hospitals and Dispensaries.
2 Tutor Sisters.-The Medical Committee of the Tung Wah Hospitals was anxious to improve the nursing and care of the sick in the three Chinese Hospitals and therefore recommended the improvement of training facilities. As one Tutor Sister was considered to be inadequate for the proper training of all the Probationer Nurses and Dressers in these hospitals two more have been appointed on a salary scale of $1,440 to $1,740 by $60 annually. The title of the originally appointed Tutor Sister has been changed to Senior Tutor Sister and the salary scale reduced from $2,600 to $3,000 by $200 annually to $2,000 to $2,500 by $100 annually.
As the present holder of the post of Interpreter and Assistant has been on the maximum of her scale ($780 to $1,020 by $60 annually) for the last four years the scale has been revised to $780 to $1,320 by $60 annually.
Health Division.
1 Superintendent and Training Officer for Health Visitors and Welfare Nurses. This appointment is considered necessary because Chinese Health Nurses, though fully trained in nursing and midwifery, have no training in health visiting. No training facilities for the Health Visitor's Certificate exist at present.
The following staff has been transferred to the Health Division of the Medical Department from the Sanitary Department (Head 26):-
2 Chief Inspectors.
5 Senior Health Inspectors.
37 Health Inspectors.
39 Chinese Health Inspectors.
10 Foreman Cleansers.
2 Engineers at Disinfecting Station.
155 Cleansing Coolies.
21 Members of the Junior Clerical Service.
(Health Inspectors were formerly known as Sanitary Inspectors).
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