XN000022-1976-02-11 — Page 10

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1976

OTHER USES FOR TUBERCULOSIS BEDS

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AS A RESULT OF THE STEADY DECLINE IN THE INCIDENCE OF TUBERCULOS IS, IT WOULD SEEM INEVITABLE THAT SOME TUBERCULOSIS BEDS WILL BE USED FOR SOME OTHER PURPOSES,+ THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. THE HON. GERALD CHOA, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS FROM DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG. HE SAID: +GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN ACQUIRING BEDS IN THE GRANTHAM HOSPITAL ON A SUBVENTION BASIS OF PAYING THE COST PER BED PER DAY SO AS TO GIVE FREE TREATMENT TO TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS.

+IT THUS FOLLOWS THAT SOME OTHER SUBVENTION METHOD WILL HAVE TO BE APPLIED IF THE BEDS ARE TO BE USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

+HOWEVER IT IS PREMATURE TO PREDICT WHETHER THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE CHANGED OR NOT AND WHEN WILL THE REVISED ARRANGEMENTS BE INTRODUCED.+

HE SAID TWO EXPERTS FROM BRITAIN HAD COMPLETED A REPORT ON THE PLANNING AND METHODS OF CONTROL AND TREATMENT OF TUBERCULOSIS IN HONG KONG AND A WORKING PARTY WAS NOW STUDYING THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

IN REPLY TO ANOTHER QUESTION FROM DR. FANG, DR. CHOA SAID THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT IN THE QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL WAS AT PRESENT NOT MAINTAINING ITS TARGET NUMBER OF 16 BEDS BECAUSE OF STAFF SHORTAGES.

AT ONE TIME, THE UNIT COULD PROVIDE ALL THE BEDS BECAUSE ADDITIONAL NURSES FROM PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL WERE POSTED IN BATCHES TO QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL FOR TRAINING.

WITH THE OPENING OF THE NEW HOSPITAL, SOME OF THESE SUPERNUMERARY NURSES WERE TRANSFERRED TO THAT HOSPITAL WHERE THEY WERE URGENTLY REQUIRED, SO THAT PRESENTLY THE NUMBER OF BEDS IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT WAS 12, DR. CHOA SAID.

*THE NEED TO OPEN ALL THE BEDS IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT WILL BE FULLY BORNE IN MIND AND WILL BE CONSIDERED AGAINST DESERVING CLAIMS FROM OTHER AREAS OF THE DEPARTMENT WHEN ADDITIONAL STAFF BECOME AVAILABLE EITHER BY RECRUITMENT OR BY REDEPLOYMENT WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

+HOWEVER IT IS HOPED THAT THE NUMBER OF BEDS IN THE UNIT WILL BE BROUGHT UP TO 16 AGAIN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE,+ HE SAID.

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