XN000022-1974-11-17 — Page 1

香港政府

GIS 新聞處

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1974

GERIATRIC UNIT AT PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL

PLANS FOR REHABILITATION, REINTEGRATION OF ELDERLY INTO COMMUNITY

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A GERIATRIC UNIT OF 220 BEDS, DUE FOR OPENING IN STAGES IN MAY NEXT YEAR, IS ONE OF THE UNIQUE FEATURES OF THE PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL IN LAI CHI KOK.

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AND THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT ARE AT WORK ON A COMMITTEE LOOKING AT ASPECTS OF THE UNIT'S ORGANISATION OF THE SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED.

THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IS INVOLVED BECAUSE THE UNIT ENVISAGES A TWO-WAY FLOW OF SUITABLE PATIENTS BETWEEN THE PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL AND OLD PEOPLE'S HOMES SUBVENTED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.

THE ROLE OF THE FIRE SERVICES IS TO PROVIDE AMBULANCE OR OTHER TRANSPORT FOR THE ELDERLY WHO ARE NOT HOSPITALISED, BUT WHO WILL GO FOR DAY CARE, INCLUDING OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AND PHYSIOTHERAPY, AT THE SOUTH KWAI CHUNG POLYCLINIC.

IN BRIEF, THE UNIT'S WORK WILL BE TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, REHABILITATE AND REINTEGRATE INTO THE COMMUNITY SUITABLE SICK OLD PEOPLE OF 65 OR OVER.

THE CONCEPT OF SUCH A UNIT WITHIN A GENERAL HOSPITAL, THOUGH NOT UNUSUAL IN SOME PARTS OF THE WORLD, IS NEW IN HONG KONG. BUT THE WHITE PAPER ON THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES HERE LOOKS FORWARD TO EXTENSION OF THE CONCEPT TO HOSPITALS AND CLINICS TO BE BUILT IN THE FUTURE.

THE UNIT WILL STRESS ACTIVE TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION, BASED ON A POLICY OF EARLY DISCHARGE SO AS TO REINTEGRATE THE PATIENTS INTO THE COMMUNITY AS INDEPENDENT INDIVIDUALS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

IN ADDITION, CARE WILL BE TAKEN TO SEE THAT BOTH PATIENTS AND PUBLIC UNDERSTAND THAT HOSPITALISATION DOES NOT MEAN A PERMANENT STAY, BUT BASED ON A REGIME OF QUICK DISCHARGE FOLLOWING ACTIVE TREATMENT.

FOR PATIENTS WHO REQUIRE LONG-TERM HOSPITAL CARE, TRANSFER WILL BE MADE TO CONTINUING-CARE BEDS+ IN OTHER HOSPITALS.

DURING A PATIENT'S STAY IN HOSPITAL, IF HE OR SHE REQUIRES CARE IN OTHER SPECIALITIES SUCH AS MEDICAL, SURGICAL, ORTHOPAEDIC, OR PSYCHIATRIC, CONSULTATION WILL BE HELD WITH THE APPROPRIATE SPECIALIST UNITS WITHIN THE HOSPITAL FOR ADVICE AND TREATMENT.

Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191

FOR A PATIENT

PAH J

L