XN000022-1980-12-13 — Page 2

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1980

GOOD NEWS FOR KIDNEY PATIENTS

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THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO SET UP TWO RENAL DIALYSIS CENTRES, ONE AT ABERDEEN AND THE OTHER AT QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL, TO AUGMENT THE EXISTING HAEMODIALYSIS SERVICES FOR KIDNEY PATIENTS.

A SUM OF $2.7 MILLION HAS BEEN DONATED BY THE LEE FAMILY IN MEMORY OF THE LATE DR LEE IU CHEUNG TOWARDS THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS OF THE TWO CENTRES WHILE THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ANNUAL RECURRENT EXPENDITURE.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT TODAY DESCRIBED THE DONATION AS A MOST TIMELY CONTRIBUTION AS IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THERE WILL BE AN ANNUAL INCREASE OF 200 PATIENTS REQUIRING RENAL DIALYSIS.

+THE ESTABLISHMENT IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS OF THE TWO RENAL DIALYSIS CENTRES WILL BE OF GREAT HELP TO ALL RENAL PATIENTS IN NEED OF SUCH TREATMENT,+ HE SAID.

THE FIRST CENTRE, EXPECTED TO COME INTO BEING IN 1982, WILL BE SET UP AT THE ABERDEEN JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC AT A COST OF ABOUT $1 MILLION.

THE SECOND CENTRE IS PLANNED TO BE SET UP IN THE NEW EXTENSION AT QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL IN 1985.

+THE PURPOSE OF SETTING UP A SATELLITE DIALYSIS CENTRE IS TO PROVIDE ON AN OUT-PATIENT BASIS FOLLOW-UP TREATMENT TO THOSE PATIENTS WHOSE CONDITION HAS BEEN STABILISED AND THUS REQUIRING MINIMAL NURSING CARE AFTER A SERIES OF TREATMENT AT A REGIONAL HOSPITAL, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

AT PRESENT THERE ARE TWO RENAL DIALYSIS UNITS, ONE AT QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL AND THE OTHER AT PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL WITH 12 AND 16 MACHINES RESPECTIVELY.

+THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SATELLITE CENTRE AT ABERDEEN WILL HELP EASE THE PRESSURE ON EXISTING FACILITIES AT QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL WHICH SHOULD BE USED FOR MORE SEVERE AND COMPLICATED CASES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

PLANS ARE ALSO IN THE PIPELINE TO INCORPORATE RENAL DIALYSIS UNITS IN THE NEW SHA TIN AND TUEN MUN HOSPITALS, TUEN MUN POLYCLINIC STAGE 2, AND KWUN TONG POLYCLINIC.

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