WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 1978
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THE HON. WONG LAM POINTED OUT THAT THERE WERE TOO MANY PLANNING ASSUMPTIONS IN CALCULATING THE REQUIREMENT FOR COMMUNITY NURSES.
IF TIME SPENT ON TRANSPORT, WRITING REPORTS, AND DISCUSSING WITH DOCTORS ABOUT THE PATIENTS CONDITION IS ALSO COUNTED, IT
IS DOUBTFUL WHETHER ONE COMMUNITY NURSE CAN UNDERTAKE EIGHT VISITS TO THE ELDERLY PER DAY AND AFTER DEDUCTING PUBLIC HOLIDAYS AND ANNUAL LEAVE, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR A COMMUNITY NURSE TO HAVE 50 WORK ING WEEKS PER YEAR.
MR. WONG BELIEVED MANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS SOCIAL WORKERS WOULD AGREE WITH HIM THAT THE COMMUNITY NURSING SCHEME IS THE BEST APPROACH, HAVING REGARD TO THE PRESENT SHORTFALL OF HOSPITAL BEDS.
OTHER HEALTH SERVICES
MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH SUGGESTED THAT GENERAL OUT-PATIENT CLINICS SHOULD SET ASIDE CERTAIN HOURS TO TREAT OLD PEOPLE ONLY.
SUCH HOURS WOULD HAVE TO BE CONVENIENT TO THE ELDERLY, AND MEDICAL STAFF ASSIGNED TO SERVE DURING THESE HOURS WOULD BE SPECIFICALLY TRAINED FOR GERIATRIC WORK.
SHE THOUGHT THE PROPOSED MEDICAL INSURANCE SCHEME WELL WORTH CONSIDERING BUT SUGGESTED THAT BEFORE IMPLEMENTING IT EXTENSIVELY, THERE SHOULD BE PILOT PROJECTS AND A STUDY ON THE EXPERIENCE GAINED BY THE UNITED CHRISTIAN HOSPITAL WHICH OPERATED SUCH A SCHEME.
SHE HOPED THAT DENTAL SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY COULD BE STRENGTHENED AND DENTAL SUBSIDIES FOR ELDERLY PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS REGULARLY REVIEWED AND ADJUSTED.
MR. WONG LAM ALSO STRESSED THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE NEEDY ELDERLY PERSONS WITH ASSISTANCE TO OBTA IN DENTURES, INSTEAD OF REQUIRING THEM TO TURN TO
CHARITABLE TRUST FUNDS FOR HELP.
CARE AND ATTENTION HOMES
THE UNOFFICIALS DREW ATTENTION TO THE URGENT NEED TO PROVIDE MORE CARE AND ATTENTION HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY,
AN INCREASINGLY LARGE NUMBER OF ELDERLY PEOPLE, BECAUSE OF THEIR DETERIORATING HEALTH, REQUIRE PERSONAL AND NURSING CARE ALTHOUGH THEY MAY NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL CARE, DR. FANG SAID.
THESE HOMES WILL FILL A GAP IN OUR EXISTING SERVICES
BECAUSE THESE ELDERLY PEOPLE SHOULD NOT OCCUPY GERIATRIC BEDS AND ARE UNABLE TO BE CARED FOR BY THEIR FAMILIES WITHOUT HELP. YET THEY ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR HOMES FOR THE AGED WHERE RESIDENTS CAN LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES.
THE UMELCO AD HOC GROUP FELT THAT THESE HOMES DO NOT IMPOSE A HEAVY DRAIN ON RESOURCES, EITHER FINANCIALLY OR IN TERMS OF MANPOWER.
/THEY RECOMMENDED
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