XN000022-1978-10-11 — Page 18

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1978

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GOVERNOR OUTLINES OBJECTIVES IN MEDICAL

AND HEALTH SERVICES

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TODAY OUTLINED VARIOUS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES,

THE MAIN OBJECTIVES FOR 1986-87 RECOMMENDED BY THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, HE SAID, WERE:

* TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF GENERAL AND SPECIALISED HOSPITAL

BEDS FROM THE PRESENT 20,000 OR 4.4 PER THOUSAND POPULATION, TO ABOUT 31,800 OR 6.1 PER THOUSAND=

X

*

*

*

TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF OUT-PATIENT CLINICS FROM 52 WITH 250 CONSULTING ROOMS, TO 66 WITH 407 CONSULTING ROOMS -- AN INCREASE OF FROM 5.4 CONSULTING ROOMS PER 100,000 TO 7.8-

EXPANDING MATERNITY AND CHILD HEALTH, FAMILY PLANNING, IMMUNISATION AND HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMMES=

INCREASING THE NUMBER OF PSYCHIATRIC BEDS FROM 2,400 TO 5,000- PSYCHIATRIC DAY BEDS FROM 180 TO 450- AND MENTALLY RETARDED BEDS FROM 260 TO 700-

OPENING A NEW DENTAL SCHOOL IN 1980 AND A SECOND MEDICAL SCHOOL IN 1981-

* TWO NEW NURSES TRAINING SCHOOLS TO BE AVAILABLE BY 1982=

AND

*

A SCHOOL DENTAL CARE SERVICE TO BE INTRODUCED IN 1980.

A NEW DENTAL THERAPIST TRAINING SCHOOL WOULD OPEN THIS MONTH, AND EXTENSIVE NEW COURSES FOR THE TRAINING OF PARA-MEDICAL PERSONNEL STARTED AT THE POLYTECHNIC IN SEPTEMBER.

SIR MURRAY SAID: IF IMPLEMENTED THESE PROPOSALS WILL RAISE RECURRENT EXPENDITURE ON MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, AT 1978 PRICES, FROM $825 MILLION IN 1978/79 TO OVER $1,600 MILLION IN 1986/87, AND INVOLVE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE OF MORE THAN $2,200 MILLION OVER THE SAME PERIOD, INCLUDING THE COST OF MEDICAL AND PARA-MEDICAL TEACHING FACILITIES AT THE TWO UNIVERSITIES AND THE POLYTECHNIC.

+ I HOPE THAT THE PROPORTIONATE INCREASES IN FACILITIES IN HOSPITALS AND CLINICS WILL RELIEVE PRESSURE ON BEDS AND BUILDINGS, IMPROVE THE CONVENIENCE AND SPEED OF MEDICAL SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC, AND FACILITATE THEIR ADMINISTRATION, HE SAID.

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