XN000022-1978-12-20 — Page 21

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1978

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MEDICAL FACILITIES IN SHA TIN

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THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS TAKEN STEPS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CONSULTATION SESSIONS IN THE EXISTING SHA TIN CLINIC AND AT THE SAME TIME EXTEND THE HOURS OF OPERATION UP TO MIDNIGHT DAILY FOR DEALING WITH EMERGENCY CASES.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. K.L. THONG, AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, THE HON. CHARLES YEUNG.

MR. YEUNG HAD ASKED WHAT INTERIM MEASURES THE GOVERNMENT WAS TAKING TO MEET THE GROWING DEMAND FOR MEDICAL FACILITIES ARISING FROM THE RAPID INCREASE IN THE POPULATION OF SHA TIN BEFORE THE OPENING OF SHA TIN HOSPITAL IN 1982.

APART FROM THE SHORT-TERM MEASURES WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN TAKEN, DR. THONG SAID A SECOND LARGE GENERAL CLINIC WILL BE BUILT AT THE SHA TIN TOWN CENTRE TO CATER TO THE NEEDS OF THE INCREASING POPULATION.

THIS PROJECT, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN INCLUDED IN CATEGORY A OF THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME, IS DUE TO BE COMPLETED BY EARLY 1980, HE SAID.

DR. THONG SAID THESE MEASURES WOULD GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE POPULATION IN SHA TIN FOR MORE FACILITIES AT THE EXISTING CLINIC AND MORE GENERAL OUT-PATIENT SERVICES IN THE AREA.

DURING THE MEETING, ANOTHER UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, THE HON, ALEX WU, ASKED IF THE GOVERNMENT HAD ANY PLANS TO PROVIDE DECOMPRESSION FACILITIES FOR DIVERS IN DISTRESS.

IN REPLY, DR. THONG SAID ARRANGEMENTS ALREADY EXISTED AT PRESENT BETWEEN THE ROYAL NAVY AND THE GOVERNMENT WHEREBY CASES OF DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS DUE TO DIVING ARE TREATED AT HMS TAMAR AND AFTERWARDS RETURNED TO GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS FOR SUBSEQUENT MANAGEMENT.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THERE WERE ONLY NINE CASES SO FAR THIS YEAR REQUIRING DECOMPRESSION TREATMENT.

+UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE NEED FOR DECOMPRESSION FACILITIES IS LIMITED AND THE ABOVE ARRANGEMENTS ARE CONSIDERED ADEQUATE AND SATISFACTORY, HE SAID.

HOWEVER, THE SITUATION WAS BEING WATCHED CLOSELY AND KEPT UNDER CONSTANT REVIEW, HE ADDED.

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