XN000022-1975-05-18 — Page 2

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SUNDAY, MAY 18, 1975

ACCORDING TO THE DOCTOR IN CHARGE OF THE UNIT, THE OUTLOOK OF THE SPINAL CORD INJURY PATIENTS IS BRIGHT.

MANY OF OUR PATIENTS CAN ACTUALLY RECOVER TO BE ABLE TO WALK INDEPENDENTLY, AND MANY OTHERS ACHIEVE MAXIMUM INDEPENDENCE ON WHEELCHAIRS. ONLY A MINORITY WITH SEVERE DISABILITY HAD TO BE INSTITUTIONALISED FOR LIFE, HE SAID.

GIVEN THE PROPER ENVIRONMENT, THE DOCTOR SAID, MOST OF THEM SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE INTEGRATED BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY, AND LEAD A NORMAL LIFE.

HE REITERATED THAT THE EARLIER THE PATIENTS WERE REFERRED TO THE UNIT, THE BETTER THE CHANCE OF THEIR RECOVERY.

THE TIME SPENT ON TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION OF THESE PATIENTS NORMALLY TAKES BETWEEN SIX AND NINE MONTHS, AFTER WHICH THEY ARE DISCHARGED.

HOWEVER, THE WORK OF THE UNIT DOES NOT END THERE.

BEFORE

A PATIENT IS DISCHARGED, THE UNIT'S REHABILITATION TEAM WOULD VISIT THE PATIENT'S HOME TO ASSESS HIS LIVING ENVIRONMENT. IF THE PATIENT'S HOME IS FOUND NOT SUITABLE, MEASURES WILL THEN BE TAKEN TO MODIFY IT, E.G. RECONSTRUCTING THE BATHROOM AND THE STAIRCASES, OR TO MAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR THE PATIENT TO BE REMOUSED.

DISCHARGED PATIENTS ARE ALSO REFERRED TO OTHER CENTRES FOR VOCATIONAL TRAINING OR JOB PLACEMENT SO THAT THEY CAN BE INTEGRATED BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY. THEY ARE ALSO FOLLOWED UP AT REGULAR INTERVALS IN THIS UNIT FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE.

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