XN000022-1975-07-09 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1975

THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAD PROPOSED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF REGIONAL HOSPITALS, WHICH WOULD BE MAJOR ACUTE HOSPITALS, EQUIPPED TO TREAT PATIENTS REQUIRING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SPECIALIST CARE, AND DISTRICT HOSPITALS, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE THE BASIC HOSPITAL SERVICES IN THE REGION AND WILL RECEIVE PATIENTS WHOSE CONDITION IS NOT SUCH AS TO WARRANT REFERRAL DIRECTLY TO THE REGIONAL HOSPITAL.

+I BELIEVE WITH SUCH RESTRUCTIONS AND REORGANISATIONS, HONG KONG'S HOSPITAL SERVICES AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WOULD ADVANCE TO A GREATER DEGREE OF SOPHISTICATION,+ SAID DR. CHOA.

OF THE EXISTING ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY SERVICES, THE DIRECTOR SAID THE CASUALTY DEPARTMENTS OF HONG KONG'S FOUR MAJOR HOSPITALS DEALT WITH AN AVERAGE OF 1,300 CASES A DAY.

ALMOST 50 PER CENT OF THESE, OR 620 CASES, WERE DEALT WITH AT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL, 320 CASES AT KWONG WAH, 220 AT TANG SHIU KIN AND 120 AT QUEEN MARY, HE SAID.

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THE ADMISSION RATE OF CASUALTY CASES WAS ABOUT 30 PER CENT,

·HE ADDED.

DR. CHOA SAID ONE SPECIAL FEATURE OF HONG KONG'S EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE WAS THE DEPLOYMEN OF AUXILIARY AIR FORCE HELICOPTERS TO PICK UP PATIENTS FROM ISOLATED ISLANDS AND INACCESSIBLE AREAS AND TRANSPORT THEM TO MAJOR HOSPITALS IN URBAN AREAS FOR INTENSIVE CARE.

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LAST YEAR, A TOTAL OF 120 SUCH MERCY FLIGHTS'' HAD BEEN CARRIED OUT, HE SAID.

DURING TYPHOONS AND NATURAL DISASTERS, THE AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICE OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN HELPING PEOPLE IN DISTRESS BY GIVING FIRST-AID TREATMENT AND ARRANGING FOR TRANSPORT AND THE SUPPLY OF MEDICINE, HE ADDED.

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