XN000022-1976-03-26 — Page 4

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FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 1976

PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL STARTS ADMITTING CASUALTIES

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THE HEAVY PRESSURE ON QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL'S CASUALTY DEPARTMENT WILL BE GREATLY RELIEVED WHEN THE NEW PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL BEGINS ITS CASUALTY SERVICE NEXT MONDAY (MARCH 29).

INITIALLY, THE CASUALTY DEPARTMENT OF THE PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL WILL OPERATE DURING DAYTIME ONLY FROM 9 A.M. TO 4.30 P.M. IT WILL GO INTO 24-HOUR SERVICE WHEN THE HOSPITAL IS FULLY OPERATIONAL LATER THIS YEAR.

IT IS INTENDED THAT EMERGENCY CASES FROM NORTHWEST KOWLOON AND THE WESTERN PART OF THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL BE TAKEN TO PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL, THUS LESSENING THE CASE LOAD ON Q.E.H.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAID THAT WITH THE OPENING OF THE CASUALTY DEPARTMENT, THE FIRST STAGE OF THE HOSPITAL'S PHASED OPENING PROGRAMME HAD BEEN COMPLETED ON SCHEDULE.

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THE HOSPITAL HAS A TOTAL CAPACITY OF 1.300 BEDS. OF WHICH SOME 900 BEDS HAVE BEEN PUT INTO USE SINCE IT WAS OPENED ON OCTOBER 20, 1975.

CASUALTY CASES SEEN AT THE CASUALTY DEPARTMENT OF QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL ROSE DRAMATICALLY FROM 112,500 IN 1964 TO 242,478 IN 1975. THE ATTENDANCE LAST YEAR REPRESENTED AN AVERAGE OF 700 À DAY, OR ONE PATIENT EVERY TWO MINUTES.

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