XN000022-1981-06-14 — Page 5

SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 1981

+TO ACHIEVE THIS, THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE A LEAD IN PLACING THE DISABLED IN APPROPRIATE JOBS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE, RECOGNISING THAT THE ABILITIES OF MANY DISABLED PERSONS OUTWEIGH THE IR DISABILITIES AND THAT ONLY IN PRODUCTIVE AND REMUNERATIVE EMPLOYMENT WILL THEIR FULLEST POSSIBLE VOCATIONAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC POTENTIAL BE REALISED, HE SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT MORE DISABLED PERSONS WOULD BE EMPLOYED IN THE CURRENT YEAR AND THAT THE COMMERCIAL AND

INDUSTRIAL SECTOR WOULD FOLLOW THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY ON THE EMPLOYMENT OF DISABLED PERSONS.

CUSTOMER RELATIONS OFFICER FOR HOSPITAL

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THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS APPOINTED A CUSTOMER RELATIONS OFFICER AT QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL FOR A SIX-MONTH TRIAL PERIOD TO DEAL WITH COMPLAINTS FROM PATIENTS AND TO PROVIDE PROMPT INFORMATION TO OTHER USERS OF THE HOSPITAL SERVICES.

EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN THAT MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT MEDICAL PROCEDURE ARISE FROM MISUNDERSTANDING BETWEEN PATIENTS AND STAFF, A MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID,

+DUE TO THEIR HEAVY WORKLOAD, DOCTORS AND NURSES DO NOT OFTEN HAVE TIME TO EXPLAIN TO PATIENTS ABOUT THE IR TREATMENT OR HOSPITAL PROCEDURES, OR IF THEY DO, THEY TEND TO USE MEDICAL TERMS WHICH MAY NOT BE UNDERSTOOD BY THE PATIENTS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

+ IT IS HERE THAT THE CRO CAN HELP BY GETTING ALL THE RELEVANT FACTS AND EXPLAINING TO PATIENTS IN LAYMAN'S LANGUAGE,+ HE ADDED.

QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL, WITH 1 938 BEDS, IS THE LARGEST AND THE BUSIEST HOSPITAL IN HONG KONG.

IT ALSO HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST SPECIALIST OUT-PATIENT CLINICS IN HONG KONG, TAKING CARE OF HUNDREDS OF PATIENTS DAILY.

ITS CASUALTY DEPARTMENT IS ALSO THE BUSIEST IN THE TERRITORY, ATTENDING TO OVER 259 000 LAST YEAR, OR ABOUT 30 PER CENT OF ALL CASUALTY CASES IN HONG KONG.

+ IN VIEW OF THE COMPLICATED NATURE OF THE HOSPITAL AND THE HIGH IN-PATIENT AND OUT-PATIENT ATTENDANCES IT IS INEVITABLE THAT THERE ARE CONFLICTS BETWEEN STAFF AND THE PATIENTS, + THE SPOKESMAN SAID,

+ IF THE SCHEME WORKS OUT WELL, IT WILL BE EXTENDED TO TWO OTHER REGIONAL HOSPITALS, QUEEN MARY AND PRINCESS MARGARET,+ HE SAID.

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