XN000022-1978-08-02 — Page 30

-

28

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1976

GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING AIR-CONDITIONING

GENERAL HOSPITAL WARDS AND AMBULANCES ******

THE GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING AIR-CONDITIONING GENERAL WARDS IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AS WELL AS ITS FLEET OF AMBULANCES.

THIS WAS REVEALED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON. E.P. HỌ IN REPLY TO TWO SEPARATE QUESTIONS FROM THE HON. PETER C. WONG AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IN REPLY TO ANOTHER QUESTION FROM DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG, MR. HO SAID AN ESTIMATE FOR THE WORK IS BEING PREPARED TO AIR-CONDITION THE THREE MEDICAL AND ONE SURGICAL WARDS AT LOWER GROUND LEVEL AT PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL WHERE THE TEMPERATURE MAY BE SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN ELSEWHERE IN THE HOSPITAL.

MR. HO SAID THE HIGHER TEMPERATURE IN THESE WARDS IS DUE TO THE LOCATION OF 'THE BOILER, AUTOCLAVE AND INCINERATORS ON THE FLOOR IMMEDIATELY BELOW, COUPLED WITH THE EXISTENCE OF A RETAINING WALL WHICH REDUCES THROUGH VENTILATION.

HE NOTED THAT AN ADDITIONAL INSULATED CEILING OVER THE HEAT GENERATING AREA WAS BUILT WHEN THE CONDITION WAS NOTED IN 1977 AFTER THE WARDS WERE BROUGHT INTO USE.

MR. HO SAID THE REMEDIAL WORK WAS COMPLETED IN MARCH THIS YEAR, EUT EXPERIENCE THIS SUMMER HAS SHOWN THAT ANY IMPROVEMENT IN THE SITUATION HAS ONLY BEEN MARGINAL, AND THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES CONSIDERS THAT THE ONLY EFFECTIVE REMEDY IS TO AIR- CONDITION THESE WARDS.

/29

Page 30Page 31