XN000022-1983-01-02 — Page 4

SUNDAY, JANUARY 2, 1983

3.

IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, A NEW WING WAS ADDED TO THE HONG KONG BAPTIST HOSPITAL PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL 374 BEDS AND OTHER MODERN AND SOPHISTICATED EQUIPMENT.

THREE NEW SERVICES WERE INTRODUCED DURING THE YEAR 1 A GERIATRIC DAY HOSPITAL AT SOUTH KWAI CHUNG POLYCLINIC EXTENSION, A RENAL DIALYSIS SATELLITE CENTRE AT THE ABERDEEN JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC, AND TWO SCANNERS INSTALLED AT QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL AND KWÔNG WAH HOSPITAL.

TWO NEW NURSES TRAINING SCHOOLS WERE ESTABLISHED AT PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL AND THE PRINCE OF WALES HOSPITAL, AND EXPANDED TRAINING FACILITIES FOR RADIOGRAPHERS, PHYSIOTHERAPISTS, MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIANS AND NURSE TUTORS WERE ALSO PROVIDED AT THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC.

WHILE THE PROBLEM OF OVERCROWDING IN HOSPITALS CONTINUED TO PUT PRESSURE ON SERVICES, A PILOT SCHEME WAS INTRODUCED TO IMPROVE CASUALTY SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC.

THE SCHEME, IMPLEMENTED AT PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL, AIMED AT IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF SERVICE AS WELL AS MAKING THE CASUALTY DEPARTMENT MORE ATTRACTIVE TO DOCTORS.

WAS

UNDER THE SCHEME, MEDICAL OFFICERS FROM VARIOUS CLINICAL UNITS ARE ROTATED TO SERVE IN THE CASUALTY DEPARTMENT, WHILE CASUALTY OFFICERS ARE POSTED TO CLINICAL UNITS FOR SHORT TOURS SO THAT THEY CAN GAIN SPECIALTY EXPERIENCE WHICH WILL HELP THEM FULFIL PART OF THE TRAINING REQUIREMENT LEADING TO THE AWARD OF THE FRCS (A AND E).

CONSIDERATION WAS BEING GIVEN TO INTRODUCING THE +COGWHEEL+ SYSTEM IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS, WHICH IS AIMED AT IMPROVING THE MANAGEMENT OF MEDICAL SERVICES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

IT IS ENVISAGED THAT THE NEW MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, BASED ON THE UK MODEL, WILL BE TRIED AT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL EARLY THIS YEAR.

THE DEPARTMENT'S METHADONE PROGRAMME FOR DRUG ADDICTS CONTINUED TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN THE OVERALL NARCOTICS TREATMENT PROGRAMME WHICH IS CO-ORDINATED BY THE NARCOTICS DIVISION OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT.

DURING THE YEAR, THREE MORE METHADONE DETOXIFICATION CLINICS WERE OPENED, ONE ON HONG KONG ISLAND, ANOTHER IN SHA TIN AND THE THIRD IN YUEN LONG, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF METHADONE CLINICS TO 23, WHICH ARE LOCATED THROUGHOUT HONG KONG, KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS OFFICE SET UP IN QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL AS A PILOT PROJECT PROVED TO BE BENEFICIAL BOTH TO THE PATIENTS AND THEIR RELATIVES, AND TO THE HOSPITAL STAFF. THE PROJECT WAS STARTED IN 1981 WITH THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF RENDERING SERVICE TO THE PATIENTS AND THEIR RELATIVES TO OBTAIN AVAILABLE SERVICES IN THE HOSPITAL PROMPTLY.

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