XN000022-1982-06-02 — Page 30

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 1982

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HELP FOR DISCHARGED MENTAL PATIENTS

* * *

A RANGE OF REHABILITATION SERVICES IS PROVIDED TO INTEGRATE PATIENTS DISCHARGED FROM MENTAL HOSPITALS BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY, THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON E.P. HO SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR HO SAID THESE PATIENTS WERE NORMALLY ASKED TO ATTEND PSYCHIATRIC OUT-PATIENT CLINICS FOR FOLLOW-UP TREATMENT AND OBSERVATION, UNLESS OTHER ARRANGEMENTS HAD BEEN MADE FOR MONITORING THEIR PROGRESS.

+THUS THE COMMUNITY WORK AND AFTER-CARE UNIT OF CASTLE PEAK HOSPITAL WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1977 TO FOLLOW UP ON SELECTED PATIENTS DISCHARGED, UNTIL THEY BECAME STABLE IN THE COMMUNITY.+ WITH THE OPENING OF THE KWAI CHUNG HOSPITAL, MR HO SAID, A PSYCHIATRIC COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE, BASED ON THE HOSPITAL, BEGAŃ WORK IN APRIL 1982 TO PROVIDE AFTER-CARE FOR DISCHARGED PATIENTS REFERRED BY DOCTORS.

+THE ESTIMATED REQUIREMENT FOR PSYCHIATRIC CONSULTING ROOMS IS 42 AND THE EXISTING PROVISION IS 29- THIS SHORTFALL OF 13 SHOULD BE CLEARED BY 1984, + HE ADDED.

MR HO SAID HALF-WAY HOUSES WERE ALSO PROVIDED TO HELP PATIENTS ADJUST.

A SOCIAL WORK COUNSELLING SERVICE WAS PROVIDED TO ASSIST

A PATIENT DISCHARGED HOME, OR TO A HALF-WAY HOUSE

TO COPE WITH EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS.

AND TWO SOCIAL CLUBS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED IN TEMPORARY PREMISES FOR THE FORMER PATIENTS TO PREPARE THEM FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAMMES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC IN COMMUNITY CENTRES.

SOCIAL WORKERS LOOKING AFTER FORMER PATIENTS ABLE TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY, BUT UNABLE TO RETURN TO THEIR FAMILY HOME, WOULD SEEK TO HAVE THEM ACCOMMODATED IN PUBLIC HOUSING, WITHIN THE COMPASSIONATE REHOUSING SCHEME, MR HO SAID.

MR HO SAID ALSO THAT JOB PLACEMENTS WERE ARRANGED FOR FORMER PATIENTS IN OPEN EMPLOYMENT WHERE POSSIBLE. THOSE WHO NEEDED A TEMPORARY PERIOD OF WORK ADJUSTMENT WERE PLACED

IN SHELTERED WORKSHOPS.

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