XN000022-1981-12-28 — Page 4

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1981

OUTPATIENT FACILITIES EXPANDED

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THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS TAKING POSITIVE MEASURES TO EXPAND OUTPATIENT FACILITIES TO COPE WITH THE INCREASING DEMAND BY RESIDENTS IN EAST KOWLOON.

FROM JANUARY 1, THE KWUN TONG JOCKEY CLUB HEALTH CENTRE WILL HAVE EXTRA DOCTOR SESSIONS FOR THE DAY, EVENING, AND SUNDAY AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS CLINICS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THE POSTING OF ONE EXTRA DOCTOR AT THE CENTRE WILL GREATLY IMPROVE OUTPATIENT TREATMENT SERVICES THERE.

THE ADDITION BRINGS THE NUMBER OF DOCTORS FOR THE EVENING AND SUNDAY CLINICS TO FOUR AND THE DAY CLINIC TO FIVE, WHICH IS MORE THAN IN MOST OTHER CLINICS.

KWUN TONG HEALTH CENTRE IS A GOVERNMENT CLINIC WITH THE LARGEST NUMBER OF DOCTORS ATTENDING THE OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENT AT ANY ONE TIME, HE SAID.

THE HEALTH CENTRE IS USUALLY WELL-ATTENDED AND THE INCREASE OF DOCTOR SESSIONS IS AN EFFECTIVE MEASURE TO MEET THE DEMAND IN THIS DENSELY-POPULATED AREA, HE SAID.

A NEW CLINIC AT NGAU TAU KOK WILL BE IN OPERATION EARLY NEXT YEAR TO EASE THE PRESSURE ON THE MEDICAL FACILITIES IN THE REGION.

MEANWHILE, THE TUEN MUN EVENING CLINIC IN THE NEW TERRITORIES HAS BEEN IN OPERATION SINCE NOVEMBER DEALING WITH AN AVERAGE OF 70 VISITS A DAY.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE CLINIC, WITH A MAXIMUM CAPACITY OF 160 CONSULTATIONS PER SESSION, HAS NOT BEEN FULLY UTILISED BY THE RESIDENTS.

HE URGED TUEN MUN RESIDENTS TO MAKE USE OF THE EVENING SERVICES INSTEAD OF OVERLOADING THE DAY CLINIC.

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