XN000022-1982-06-16 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1982

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HOSPITAL PRAISED FOR EMERGENCY WORK

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MORE THAN 100 ADDITIONAL HOSPITAL STAFF WERE MOBILISED AT THE CARITAS MEDICAL CENTRE TO TREAT THE INJURED DURING THE TRAGIC UN CHAU ESTATE INCIDENT EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR K.L. THONG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HE SAID IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR HARRY S.Y. FANG, THAT ACCORDING TO INFORMATION FROM THE CAR ITAS MEDICAL CENTRE, SUFFICIENT STAFF WITHIN THE HOSPITAL WERE MOBILISED TO HELP IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, THE OPERATION THEATRES AND THE WARDS.

HE COMMENDED THE PEOPLE CONCERNED FOR THEIR GOOD WORK.

TWENTY DOCTORS AND 19 NURSES HELPED IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, 17 DOCTORS AND NINE NURSES IN THE OPERATION THEATRES AND 10 DOCTORS AND 43 NURSES IN THE WARDS, HE SAID.

+THESE AREAS OF SERVICES WERE ABLY SUPPORTED BY THE PARA-MEDICAL STAFF IN THE LABORATORIES, THE X-RAY DEPARTMENT, AND THE MEDICAL SOCIAL SERVICES OF THE CENTRE, WHICH AMOUNTED TO 24,+ DR THONG SAID.

SENIOR STAFF FROM THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT WERE ALSO ON HAND TO ASSIST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRAGEDY.

TWO ANAESTHETISTS AND SOME SUPPLY OF BLOOD AND EQUIPMENT WERE MADE AVAILABLE FROM PRINCESS MARGARET AND QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITALS, DR THONG SAID.

+ARRANGEMENTS WERE ALSO MADE FOR EMERGENCY CASES TO BE DIVERTED FROM THE CENTRE FOR FOUR DAYS FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT,

IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE HOSPITAL TO CONCENTRATE ON THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CASES ADMITTED RESULTING FROM THE TRAGEDY, HE ADDED.

DR THONG COMMENDED THE ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF OF THE CARITAS MEDICAL CENTRE FOR THEIR HEROIC EFFORTS IN COPING WITH THE EXTREME PRESSURES RESULTING FROM THE CRISIS IN A MOST EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE MANNER.

HE ALSO PAID TRIBUTE TO ALL THOSE IN THE HONG KONG RED CROSS AND OTHER RELEVANT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WHO HAD RESPONDED +MAGNIFICENTLY TO RENDER HELP IN THE INCIDENT.

+ THINK I AM ONLY EXPRESSING THE SENTIMENTS OF ALL CONCERNED WHEN I SAY THAT THIS INCIDENT IS MOST REGRETTABLE AND OUR UTMOST SYMPATHIES AND CONDOLENCES GO TO THE UNFORTUNATE VICTIMS AND THE IR RELATIVES, DR THONG SAID.