XN000022-1978-08-31 — Page 10

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 1978

MORE COMMUNITY NURSING COURSES ON THE WAY

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THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL PROVIDE MORE COMMUNITY NURSING COURSES IN THE COMING YEARS TO TRAIN BOTH REGISTERED AND ENROLLED NURSES TO CARE FOR PATIENTS IN THEIR OWN HOMES AND FACILITATE THEIR EARLY DISCHARGE FROM HOSPITAL.

THIS WAS STATED TODAY BY THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. LAM SIM-FOOK, AT THE PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES TO 22 GRADUATES OF THE FIRST GOVERNMENT-RUN COMMUNITY NURSING COURSE.

HE SAID THE COURSE IS A JOINT EFFORT BY THE DEPARTMENT WHICH MADE AVAILABLE THE CLASSROOM AND TEACHING FACILITIES AND THE SIX VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS ALREADY PROVIDING THE COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE ON THE FIELD.

+ I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A UNIQUE MILESTONE MARKING YET ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL VENTURE PIONEERED BY THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WHICH SINCE APRIL 1977 HAVE BEEN ASSISTED BY A GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION TO PROVIDE A UNIFIED SERVICE TO THE URBAN AREAS OF HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, HE SAID.

DURING THE PAST 16 MONTHS, DR. LAM SAID, THE OPPORTUNITY HAS BEEN TAKEN TO EVALUATE AND CONSOLIDATE THE SERVICE AND TO ASSESS WHETHER EXPANSION IS NECESSARY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF HONG KONG'S SICK AND DISABLED, ESPECIALLY THE ELDERLY,

A REPORT HAS BEEN PREPARED WHICH WILL BE CONSIDERED BY THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AT ITS NEXT MEETING, HE ADDED.

DR. LAM SAID CONCURRENTLY WITH THE TRAINING OF COMMUNITY NURSES GOES WITH THE IMPORTANT TASK OF MAKING THE EXISTENCE OF THE SERVICE KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC AS A WHOLE AND EDUCATING PROFESSIONALS SUCH AS DOCTORS, THERAPISTS AND SOCIAL WORKERS HOW THE COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE CAN BEST BE USED TO REHABILITATE AND GIVE CONTINUING CARE TO THE IR PATIENTS.

HOWEVER, HE STRESSED THAT COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE IS NOT A PRIVATE NURSING SERVICE AND DOES NOT GIVE CONSTANT NURSING SUPERVISION.

+EACH VISIT BY A COMMUNITY NURSE IS LIMITED TO THE TIME REQUIRED FOR GIVING NECESSARY NURSING CARE AND INSTRUCTIONS,+ HE SAID.

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DR. LAM POINTED OUT THAT THE PART PLAYED BY THE COMMUNITY NURSE IS IN SUPPORTING TO ENABLE THE FAMILY MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION OF THEIR SICK, DISABLED OR ELDERLY INFIRM RELATIVES IN THE HOME.

+THIS IS MOST IMPORTANT. THE COMMUNITY NURSE'S SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FAMILY AS A WHOLE IS A PRIME FACTOR IN BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN HOSPITAL AND HOME,+ HE SAID.

THE EXISTING

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