XN000022-1981-11-03 — Page 3

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1981

CLINICAL GENETIC SERVICE EXPANDED

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THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS EXPANDING ITS CLINICAL GENETIC SERVICE IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF BIRTHS OF ABNORMAL BABIES.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT GENETIC COUNSELLING SERVICE IS UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED AS AN EFFECTIVE MEASURE IN HELPING TO DIAGNOSE AND PREVENT THE BIRTH OF ABNORMAL BABIES.

THE FIRST SUCH CLINIC IN HONG KONG WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1976 IN QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL. IT HELD ONLY ONE SESSION A MONTH.

FROM TODAY, HOWEVER, THE SERVICE WILL BE EXTENDED TO THE OTHER TWO REGIONAL HOSPITALS —— QUEEN MARY AND PRINCESS MARGARET AND WILL HOLD MORE FREQUENT CLINICAL SESSIONS.

A CLINIC WILL BE SET UP AT SAI YING PUN JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC FOR PATIENTS RESIDING ON HONG KONG ISLAND.

PATIENTS LIVING IN KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES CAN SEEK CONSULTATION AT THE SPECIALIST CLINICS AT QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL.

THE SERVICE IS ALSO AVAILABLE AT QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL FOR PRIVATE PATIENTS AND GOVERNMENT SERVANTS AND THEIR DEPENDANTS.

DURING THE INITIAL PHASE OF EXPANSION, PATIENTS HAVE TO BE REFERRED FOR GENETIC COUNSELLING BY THE APPROPRIATE SPECIALIST CLINICS, THE THREE REGIONAL GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS (QUEEN MARY QUEEN ELIZABETH AND PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITALS), THE GOVERNMENT'S FAMILIES CLINIC OR BY PRIVATE PRACTITIONERS.

IN GENETIC COUNSELLING, BOTH THE MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS OF THE PATIENTS AND THEIR RELATIVES WILL BE ATTENDED TO, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

FURTHERMORE, SUBNORMAL AND ABNORMAL BABIES, IF BORN, ARE GIVEN CONTINUAL ATTENTION BY THE SERVICE.

THE CLINICAL GENETIC SERVICE IS BACKED UP BY A CYTOGENETIC LABORATORY SET UP IN TSAN YUK HOSPITAL.

THIS LABORATORY, OPENED TWO MONTHS AGO, IS MANNED BY EXPERIENCED DOCTORS AND TECHNOLOGISTS AND ACCEPTS BLOOD OR TISSUE SAMPLES FOR TESTS FROM THE GOVERNMENT GENETIC COUNSELLING CLINIC ONLY,

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