XN000022-1982-03-04 — Page 4

THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 1982

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GERIATRIC MEDICAL SERVICES BEING EXPANDED

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THE GOVERNMENT IS STEPPING UP MEASURES TO IMPROVE MEDICAL SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY, DR K.L. THONG, DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, SAID TODAY.

SOME 800 OR MORE GERIATRIC BEDS WILL BE PROVIDED IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS WITHIN THE DECADE, HE SAID AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE GERIATRIC WARD OF KWONG WAH HOSPITAL THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON.

AT PRESENT, THERE ARE 309 GERIATRIC BEDS IN BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS, PROVIDING ACUTE AND CONTINUING CARE FOR OLD PEOPLE.

THE DIRECTOR SPOKE OF THE NEED FOR EXPANSION OF GERIATRIC SERVICES DUE TO POPULATION GROWTH IN ACCORDANCE WITH A DEVELOPMENT PLAN AS LAID DOWN IN THE 1977 GREEN PAPER ON THE SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY+.

OTHER MEASURES TO IMPROVE THE MEDICAL FACILITIES FOR THIS SECTOR OF POPULATION INCLUDE HEALTH EDUCATION SERVICE, COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE, GERIATRIC OUT-PATIENT SERVICE AND ADDITION OF GERIATRIC DAY-HOSPITAL PLACES, HE SAID.

DR THONG SAID THE NEW GERIATRIC UNIT OF KWONG WAH HOSPITAL, WITH 56 BEDS, WOULD STRENGTHEN THE SERVICES, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE RESIDING IN THE WEST KOWLOON REGION.

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE GERIATRIC WARD WAS ANOTHER ACHIEVEMENT OF THE PRESENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS IN THE IR CONTINUING EFFORTS TO HELP IMPROVE COMMUNITY SERVICES, HE SAID,

THE NEW PROJECT WAS BROUGHT TO FRUITION WITH CONTRIBUTIONS OF $480 000 FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE GROUP AND $100 000 FROM THE LEE FOUNDATION, HE SAID.

MAXICAB NO. 16 TO BE RE-ROUTED

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HONG KONG MAXICAB SERVICE NO. 16, BETWEEN CHAI WAN AND STANLEY VILLAGE, WILL BE RE-ROUTED VIA THE CHAI WAN FERRY PIER ON BOTH INWARD AND OUTWARD JOURNEYS AS FROM TOMORROW (FRIDAY), THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY.

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