XN000022-1976-10-27 — Page 15

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1976

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SHE SUGGESTED THAT THE FOUR PILOT YOUTH GUIDANCE PROJECTS SHOULD CONTINUE AND AT LEAST ONE OR TWO SUCH SCHEMES BE ESTABLISHED IN EACH OF THE MORE CROWDED PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES.

ON SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK, SHE SAID THAT MORE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE PART IN THIS SERVICE THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SHOULD WORK EVEN MORE CLOSELY TOGETHER AND MORE SUBVENTION SHOULD BE PROVIDED FOR VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WHICH WERE OR WOULD BE ENGAGED IN THIS FIELD.

MISS KO URGED GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO GIVE GREATER PRIORITY TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALL TYPES OF WELFARE SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY.

SHE HOPED THAT THE NEW SET OF STANDARDS FOR THE OLD PEOPLE'S HOMES WOULD BE DRAWN UP ACCORDING TO REAL NEEDS AND LOCAL SITUATIONS,

THIS, SHE SAID, WOULD SERVE AS A USEFUL GUIDELINE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY.

ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND LAW AND ORDER IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, MISS KO STRESSED THAT MEASURES TO FIGHT CRIME, TO FOSTER BETTER CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION AND TO COORDINATE SERVICES IN THE ESTATE, SHOULD BE CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVED AND STRENGTHENED.

SHE SAID THAT THE POLICE FORCE SHOULD BE EVEN FURTHER STRENGTHENED IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND PATROLS ORGANISED BY THE RESIDENTS THEMSELVES SHOULD LIKEWISE BE STRENGTHENED AND THEIR NUMBERS SHOULD BE INCREASED AS THEY WOULD ALSO HELP IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME.

TURNING TO REHABILITATION FOR THE DISABLED, MISS KO SUGGESTED THAT AN OPERATIONAL PLAN BE JOINTLY DESIGNED BY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES CONCERNED.

IN CONCLUSION, SHE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER FAVOURABLY THE NEED FOR EXPANSION OF COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE.

SHE POINTED OUT THAT COMMUNITY NURSING NOT ONLY HELPED TO RELEASE MORE HOSPITAL BEDS FOR OTHER PATIENTS BUT ALSO SAVED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PUBLIC MONEY.

+THE AVERAGE COST FOR KEEPING A PATIENT IN HOSPITAL IS ABOUT $80 PER DAY, SHE SAID. +WHEN THIS IS COMPARED WITH THE COST OF $10 PER DAY IF COMMUNITY NURSING IS EMPLOYED FOR THE SAME PATIENT, THE DIFFERENCE IS SIGNIFICANT.+

THROUGH THIS SERVICE, MISS KO SAID PATIENTS COULD BE ENCOURAGED, WITH THE HELP OF THEIR FAMILIES, TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR OWN REHABILITATION.

+ALSO, THE RELAPSE OF ILLNESS CAN BE PREVENTED BY PROVIDING NURSING CARE AND HEALTH EDUCATION FOR PATIENTS IN THEIR OWN HOMES, SHE ADDED,

MISS KO HOPED THAT OPPORTUNITIES WOULD ARISE FOR GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO DISCUSS AND STUDY THE WHOLE AREA IN ORDER TO MAKE DETAILED PLANS TO PROMOTE THE SERVICE.

SHE URGED THAT GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO VOLUNTARY AGENCIES ALREADY WORKING IN THIS AREA AND MORE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES BE ENCOURAGED TO RENDER SERVICE IN THIS FIELD.

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