XN000022-1978-11-16 — Page 9

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1978

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MASSIVE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN

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THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. THE HON. K.L. THONG, TODAY OUTLINED A MASSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR HOSPITAL AND SPECIALIST FACILITIES, INCLUDING THE COMPLETION OF FOUR MAJOR HOSPITALS WITH 1,200 TO 1,400 BEDS EACH DURING THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS WERE ALSO BEING CONSIDERED FOR THE THREE EXISTING REGIONAL HOSPITALS AND OTHER HOSPITALS IN THE WHOLE HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM, HE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING THIS AFTERNOON.

DR. THONG SAID THESE PROJECTS WOULD INCUR CAPITAL EXPENDITURE EXCEEDING $2,200 MILLION WITH THE SUBSEQUENT RECURRENT EXPENDITURE AMOUNTING TO MORE THAN $1,600 MILLION BY 1987 AT PRESENT DAY PRICES.

IN REPLY TO UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN'S SUGGESTION FOR A PAEDIATRIC HOSPITAL, DR. THONG POINTED OUT THAT THERE ARE ALREADY SPECIALIST PAEDIATRIC UNITS ATTACHED TO THE THREE REGIONAL HOSPITALS -- QUEEN MARY, QUEEN ELIZABETH AND PRINCESS MARGARET.

THESE SPECIALIST FACILITIES, HE SAID, WERE PROVIDING A GOOD AND EFFICIENT SERVICE WHICH TO A LARGE EXTENT HAD CONTRIBUTED TO VERY LOW INFANT AND CHILD MORTALITY RATES, AND COMPARED VERY FAVOURABLY WITH THE BEST IN THE WORLD.

DR. THONG SAID THAT A FEASIBILITY STUDY WILL BE UNDERTAKEN SOON IN CONNECTION WITH A PROPOSAL TO UPDATE PAEDIATRIC AND OTHER FACILITIES FOR QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL AND QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL.

PLANS FOR A MODERN AND UP-TO-DATE PAEDIATRIC UNIT HAS ALSO

BEEN INCORPORATED IN THE NEW SHA TIN HOSPITAL, HE ADDED.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE GENERAL TREND IN MEDICINE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD IS TOWARDS THE PROVISION OF SPECIALIST FACILITIES BEING ATTACHED TO GENERAL HOSPITALS RATHER THAN TO CATER FOR SUCH SERVICES IN SEPARATE SPECIALIST HOSPITALS.

ON THE PROVISION OF MORE MEDICAL FACILITIES IN EAST KOWLOON MENTIONED BY THE REV. THE HON. JOYCE M. BENNETT, DR. THONG SAID THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS ALREADY ENDORSED THE DEPARTMENT'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BUILDING A MAJOR HOSPITAL IN JORDON VALLEY.

THIS HOSPITAL IS ENVISAGED TO BE COMPLETED IN THE MID-1980S SUBJECT TO THE PROVISION OF FUNDS.

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