XN000022-1979-02-14 — Page 13

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1979

PLEA TO AIR-CONDITION THIRD CLASS HOSPITAL WARDS

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AN UNOFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBER APPEALED TO THE GOVERNMENT TO EXTEND AIR-CONDITIONING TO THIRD CLASS WARDS IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS.

THE PLEA WAS MADE BY THE HON. PETER C. WONG AT THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY). HE ASKED A QUESTION ON THE SAME SUBJECT IN THE COUNCIL LAST AUGUST.

HE SAID THE IMPROVEMENT WOULD NOT BE A LUXURY BUT A NECESSITY AND WOULD BENEFIT THE LESS FORTUNATE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. HE LISTED THESE REASONS :

* HIGH TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY NOT ONLY CAUSE GREAT

DISCOMFORT BUT ARE ALSO LIKELY TO DISTURB THE METABOLISM OF PATIENTS, PARTICULARLY EXPECTANT MOTHERS AND THOSE HEAVILY BANDAGED OR WITH LIMBS OR TRUNK IN PLASTER-

* SYMPTOMS SUCH AS RESTLESSNESS, SLEEPLESSNESS AND

DEPRESSION MAY ALSO DEVELOP IN A PATIENT AND

PSYCHOLOGICALLY AFFECT HIS RESPONSE TO TREATMENT-

* CONTROLLED ROOM TEMPERATURE IS ESSENTIAL FOR CERTAIN

MEDICAL CONDITIONS, SUCH AS HYPERPYREXIA, SKIN AND NEUROSURGICAL DISEASES AND BURNS-

* IT ALLEVIATES THE PROBLEM OF DUST AND LACK OF

VENTILATION CAUSED BY INSECT SCREENING IN CERTAIN WARDS-

*

*

ALTHOUGH THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS IN NON-AIR- CONDITIONED WARDS ARE NO WORSE THAN THOSE IN MOST PATIENTS' HOMES BUT THERE THEY ARE WELL AND STRONG AND NOT BED-RIDDEN-

A IR-CONDITIONING WOULD ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF OVERCROWDING WHICH HAS REACHED ALMOST SERIOUS PROPORTIONS IN CERTAIN HOSPITALS AND

* IT WOULD ALSO CREATE A FAVOURABLE WORK ING ENVIRONMENT FOR NURSES WHICH IS ESSENTIAL FOR PERFORMING THE IR DUTIES EFFICIENTLY.

MR. WONG QUOTED COMMENTS BY THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK IN SUPPORT OF HIS REQUEST.