XN000022-1975-07-09 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1975.

ACCIDENT AND CASUALTY SERVICES GEARED TOWARDS REHABILITATION OF INJURED PERSONS

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THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. GERALD CHOA, SAID TODAY THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG'S EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WOULD BE GEARED TOWARDS REHABILITATING VICTIMS OF ACCIDENTS AND NATURAL DISASTERS.

HE SAID EQUAL EMPHASIS WAS TO BE PLACED ON TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION IN THE 10-YEAR MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEVELOPMENT PLANS TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE THE ACCIDENT AND CASUALTY SERVICES.

HE WAS SPEAKING ON HONG KONG'S EMERGENCY SERVICES AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE VICTORIA LIONS CLUB THIS AFTERNOON.

DR. CHOA POINTED OUT THAT ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY SERVICES, NO MATTER HOW EFFICIENT THEY WERE, WOULD NOT BE COMPLETE WITHOUT THE SUPPORTING FACILITIES TO REHABILITATE AND INTERGRATE THE INJURED PERSONS BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY AS PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS.

HE SUGGESTED THAT THE IDEAL STRUCTURE OF SUCH SERVICES WOULD BE THE TWO-TIER SYSTEM OF DESIGNATED ACCIDENT CENTRES AND ACCIDENT CENTRES AS RECOMMENDED BY THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY .COMMITTEE IN ITS 10-YEAR MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEVELOPMENT PLAN.

UNDER THE PROPOSED SYSTEM, AN INJURED PERSON WILL BE DELIVERED BY AMBULANCE TO EITHER A DESIGNATED ACCIDENT CENTRE OR AN ACCIDENT CENTRE ACCORDING TO THE SEVERITY OF HIS INJURIES,

THE DIRECTOR EXPLAINED THAT A DESIGNATED ACCIDENT CENTRE WOULD BE ACCOMMODATED IN A MAJOR HOSPITAL, WHICH IS EQUIPPED AND STAFFED TO ENABLE EVERY NECESSARY INVESTIGATION AND TREATMENT OF ANY CASE OF TRAUMA AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY OR NIGHT.

AFTER EMERGENCY TREATMENT, THE INJURED PERSON WOULD EITHER BE DISCHARGED OR REQUIRED TO ATTEND THE HOSPITAL'S OUT-PATIENT DEPARTMENT OR TRANSFERRED TO A CONVALESCENT HOME OR A REHABILITATION CENTRE.

AND FOR THOSE WHOSE INJURIES ARE NOT SERIOUS, THEY WOULD BE TAKEN TO AN ACCIDENT CENTRE IN A SMALLER HOSPITAL. HOWEVER, IF THE CONDITION OF THE INJURED PERSON DETERIORIATES, HE WOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO A DESIGNATED ACCIDENT CENTRE FOR FURTHER TREATMENT.

THIS TWO-TIER SYSTEM, SAID DR. CHOA, WOULD ENSURE THAT THE MORE SERIOUS CASES REQUIRING TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION COULD BE DEALT WITH SPEEDILY AND EFFICIENTLY.

HE SAID THIS SYSTEM OF ACCIDENT AND CASUALTY SERVICES WOULD FIT INTO THE PROPOSED REGIONALISATION OF HOSPITAL SERVICES UNDER • THE 10-YEAR MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEVELOPMENT PLAN.

THE MEDICAL