XN000022-1979-10-31 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1979

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IN HIS VIEW AND HE HOPED THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES WOULD AGREE, THERE SHOULD BE NO DIFFERENCE IN THE QUALITY OF SERVICE BETWEEN THE TWO CLASSIFICATIONS OF HOSPITALS. THEY BOTH LOOK AFTER ACUTE ILLNESSES AND MAJOR SURGERIES ONLY THE REGIONAL HOSPITALS PROVIDE A MORE

COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF SERVICES, INCLUDING THOSE IN SPECIALISED MEDICAL FIELDS.

HE SUGGESTED THAT IF SUBSIDISED OR DISTRICT HOSPITALS ARE BETTER EQUIPPED AND STAFFED, THE EXISTING UNSATISFACTORY CONDITIONS HE POINTED OUT WOULD BE REMOVED.

HE HAD FURTHER COMMENTS ON HOSPITAL SERVICES. HE THOUGHT STAFF STANDARDS IN THE DISTRICT HOSPITALS WOULD BE MUCH IMPROVED IF MORE OF THE STAFF HAVE CLOSER LINKS WITH THE CLINICAL DEPARTMENTS OF THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY'S MEDICAL FACULTY, LIKE STAFF IN THE REGIONAL HOSPITALS.

THESE LINKS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEACHING, TRAINING AND RESEARCH, REGULAR EXCHANGES OF STAFF AND PLACEMENT OF INTERNS SO THAT THE STAFF CAN BE STIMULATED TO KEEP ABREAST OF DEVELOPMENTS IN THEIR CHOSEN FIELD AND TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THEIR CARE, HE SAID.

ON HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT, DR. FANG MADE TWO POINTS: THE CHOICE OF WHAT SHOULD BE BOUGHT, PARTICULARLY WHEN THERE IS FINANCIAL CONSTRAINT, MUST REST WITH THE PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL STAFF, AND IT MUST BE RECOGNISED THAT EVERY PIECE OF EQUIPMENT HAS A RECOMMENDED LIFE-SPAN AND CANNOT LAST FOREVER.

IT IS FALSE ECONOMY NOT TO REPLACE WORN OUT EQUIPMENT OR INSTRUMENTS PROMPTLY. +BREAKDOWNS NOT ONLY WASTE THE TIME OF TRAINED PERSONNEL BUT RESULT IN DELAYED TREATMENT FOR PATIENTS,+ HE SAID.

HE HOPED MORE USE OF VOLUNTEER WORKERS IN HOSPITALS WOULD BE ENCOURAGED. THIS SOURCE OF HELP IS EXTENSIVELY TAPPED IN OTHER COUNTRIES AND IN SOME OF OUR DISTRICT HOSPITALS, THERE IS SCOPE FOR GREATER DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG, PARTICULARLY IN OUTLYING AREAS. IN TIME HOSPITAL STAFF SHOULD ALSO GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY WITH PROGRAMMES OF HEALTH EDUCATION AND HOME CARE.

TURNING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES, WHICH IS EXPANDING AND BECOMING MORE COMPLEX IN HONG KONG, DR. FANG REPORTED THAT THE REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE WHICH HE CHAIRED HAS ESTABLISHED SIX SUB-COMMITTEES IN THE AREAS OF PERSONNEL, EMPLOYMENT, ACCESS AND TRANSPORT, EDUCATION, HOUSING AND SPORT AND RECREATION. EACH OF THESE SIX HAS THREE DISABLED MEMBERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS HAS BEEN ACHIEVED THUS FAR BUT THERE ARE TWO AREAS OF PARTICULAR CONCERN TO WHICH THE CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE WILL GIVE FURTHER ATTENTION IN THE COMING YEAR. THESE ARE THE SHORTAGE OF TRAINED MANPOWER AND THE NEED TO GATHER AND UPDATE INFORMATION ON THE NUMBERS OF DISABLED IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEIR FORMS OF DISABILITIES, THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CENTRAL REGISTRY. HE ACKNOWLEDGED THE HELP THAT WOULD BE GIVEN TO THIS BY THE 1981 CENSUS WHICH WILL INCLUDE THE DISABLED.

/ANOTHER ISSUE