XN000022-1975-06-04 — Page 6

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 1975

PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL TO ADMIT PATIENTS IN OCTOBER ********

THE PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL WILL PROBABLY ADMIT ITS FIRST PATIENTS IN OCTOBER WHEN 162 BEDS IN THE INFECTIOUS DISEASE WARDS WILL BE OPENED.

THIS WAS REVEALED TODAY BY DR. THE HON. GERALD CHOA, DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

DR. CHOA SAID THE HOSPITAL WOULD BE OPENED IN TWO STAGES. THE OPENING OF THE 162 INFECTIOUS DISEASE BEDS, HE SAID, WOULD BE FOLLOWED A MONTH LATER BY THE OPENING OF THE GERIATRIC WARDS WITH A TOTAL OF 74 BEDS WITH ANOTHER 148 TO BE OPENED AT A LATER DATE.

+ANOTHER MONTH LATER ONE CLINICAL UNIT EACH OF THE FOLLOWING SPECIALTIES: MEDICINE, SURGERY, PAEDIATRICS, OBSTETRICS, GYNAECOLOGY AND ORHTOPAEDICS WILL BE ESTABLISHED, HE SAID.

+THE CASUALTY DEPARTMENT WILL THEN BE OPENED AFTER THESE CLINICAL UNITS ARE IN OPERATION.+

DR. CHOA ENVISAGED THAT A TOTAL OF 996 BEDS INCLUDING 38 FIRST CLASS AND SECOND CLASS BEDS WOULD BECOME OPERATIONAL AT THE END OF THIS FIRST STAGE.

+IN THE SECOND AND FINAL STAGE, ANOTHER CLINICAL UNIT EACH OF THE SPECIALTIES MENTIONED EXCEPT OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY WILL BE OPENED, HE SAID.

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