XN000022-1979-01-10 — Page 13

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1979

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UNITED NATIONS YEAR OF THE CHILD

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THE REV. THE HON. JOYCE M. BENNETT AT THE ADJOURNMENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) DREW ATTENTION TO INADEQUATE HOSPITAL FACILITIES FOR CHILDREN WHEN SHE SPOKE ON THIS YEAR'S UNITED NATIONS YEAR OF THE CHILD AND THE NEED TO

IMPROVE SERVICES TO CHILDREN IN HONG KONG.

SHE POINTED OUT THAT IN GOVERNMENT AND AIDED HOSPITALS, THE GOVERNMENT EXPECTED ONE NURSE TO CARE, DURING DAY TIME, FOR SEVEN AND AT NIGHT FOR 15 OR MORE PATIENTS, WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE CHILDREN OR ADULTS.

IN ENGLAND THERE WAS A MINIMUM OF ONE NURSE TO TWO CHILDREN, SHE ADDED.

UNDER THE CHILD CARE CENTRES ORDINANCE ONE CHILD CARE WORKER WAS ALLOWED FOR SIX CHILDREN. WHILE THE ORDINANCE DID NOT APPLY TO HOSPITALS, IT WAS REASONABLE THAT SICK CHILDREN SHOULD BE CARED FOR BY MORE NURSES THAN HEALTHY CHILDREN, MISS BENNETT SAID.

MOREOVER, COTS IN HONG KONG WERE FREQUENTLY PLACED VERY CLOSE TOGETHER. +1 AM NOT SURPRISED THAT NURSES COMPLAIN REGARDING THE IR WORKING CONDITIONS, SHE SAID.

OVERCROWDING AND UNDERSTAFFING, SHE SAID, MEANT CROSS-INFECTION COULD EASILY OCCUR. FOR A CERTAIN DISEASE THE RECOVERY RATE IN HONG KONG WAS 30 PER CENT COMPARED WITH 60 PER CENT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

+A SICK BABY OR YOUNG CHILD CAN SO EASILY CATCH DIARRHOEA FROM OTHER SICK CHILDREN. THERE ARE GROSSLY INADEQUATE FACILITIES FOR ISOLATING THESE INFECTIOUS CASES IN QUEEN MARY AND OTHER HOSPITALS, SHE SAID.

THE INADEQUATE SPACE IN CHILDREN'S WARDS HAD PRECLUDED THE MOTHER OR RELATIVE TO STAY WITH THE CHILD. DOCTORS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS HAD STUDIED THE EFFECT ON SIX MONTHS TO THREE YEARS OLD CHILDREN OF THIS SEPARATION AND, THE RESULTING PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA CAUSES

IRREPARABLE DAMAGE.+

EVEN IF THERE WAS LACK OF SPACE TO ENABLE THE CHILDREN TO GET OUT OF BED MORE THAN NECESSARY, THE WARDS COULD BE CHANGED IMMEDIATELY AT VERY LITTLE COST TO DISPLAY BRIGHT COLOURS WITH PICTURES AND BE PROVIDED WITH TOYS.

+ IF THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENTS OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS, I SUGGEST WE ASK THE HELP OF THE DESIGN STUDENTS AT THE POLYTECHNIC OR EVEN SOME OF OUR SECONDARY TECHNICAL SCHOOLS,+ MISS BENNETT SAID.

SHE ALSO REFERRED TO THE PATHOLOGY LABORATORIES AT QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL WHERE ESSENTIAL INVESTIGATIONS REQUIRED BY THE SURGEONS COULD NOT BE CARRIED OUT, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT WELL-EQUIPPED FOR CARRYING OUT THE SPECIAL TECHNIQUES REQUIRED FOR THE BIOCHEMICAL

INVESTIGATIONS ON SMALL CHILDREN.+

/+IF WE.....