XN000022-1984-12-03 — Page 2

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1984

HOSPITAL WITH CENTRAL ROLE IN DENTISTRY

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HONG KONG'S FIRST LOCALLY TRAINED DENTISTS WILL QUALIFY FOR PRACTICE IN JANUARY, 1985.

SIXTY-EIGHT DENTAL UNDERGRADUATES HAVE BEEN UNDERGOING TRAINING FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS AT THE PRINCE PHILIP DENTAL HOSPITAL, THE TEACHING HOSPITAL FOR HONG KONG UNIVERSITY'S FACULTY OF DENTISTRY.

THE $200-MILLION HOSPITAL, WHICH TOOK LESS THAN FIVE YEARS TO COMPLETE, IS ONE OF THE BEST DESIGNED IN THE WORLD.

+THE HOSPITAL WILL PRODUCE ABOUT 60 QUALIFIED DENTISTS A YEAR AND A NUMBER OF ANCILLARY WORKERS, THUS INJECTING NEW BLOOD INTO THE LOCAL DENTAL PROFESSION, SAID PROFESSOR EDWARD RENSON, HEAD OF THE UNIVERSITY'S DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATIVE DENTISTRY,

PROFESSOR RENSON CAME TO HONG KONG IN 1978 AFTER A DISTINGUISHED DENTAL CAREER IN BRITAIN AND HAS SINCE PLAYED A LEADING ROLE IN SETTING UP AND RUNNING THE HOSPITAL.

+ITS FACILITIES FOR DENTAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH ARE SECOND TO NONE AND THE DESIGN IS UNIQUE.

+THERE ARE OVER 200 CLINICAL CHAIRS WITH ASSOCIATED BACKUP FACILITIES, SOME 50 INDIVIDUAL SURGERIES, NINE SPECIAL DEMONSTRATION SURGERIES AND TWO OPERATING THEATRES,+ HE SAID.

THE SPECIALLY DESIGNED CLINICAL CHAIRS ENSURE THAT THE CLINICIAN CAN WORK LEFT-HANDED OR RIGHT-HANDED WITH THE PATIENT SITTING UP OR LYING DOWN.

BESIDES FACILITATING CLOSE SUPERVISION BY TEACHING STAFF THIS FLEXIBILITY ALLOWS MAXIMUM PRIVACY FOR THE PATIENTS BEING TREATED.

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TO MINIMISE FLOOR-TO-FLOOR TRAFFIC, CLINICAL DEPARTMENTS WITH THE LARGEST PATIENT ATTENDANCE ARE HOUSED ON THE LOWER FLOORS AND ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER OFFICES ON THE UPPER ONES.

THERE ARE ALSO A DENTAL LIBRARY AND RESEARCH LABORATORIES, WITHOUT WHICH A TEACHING HOSPITAL IS INCOMPLETE.

+TEACHING IS BY SMALL GROUP. IN MOST CASES A CLINICAL TEACHER TAKES CARE OF EIGHT STUDENTS.

+TO MEET TEACHING NEEDS TREATMENT IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ON A 'WALK-IN' BASIS. CLINICAL ATTENTION IS PROVIDED BY, OR UNDER The SUPERVISION OF, DENTALLY QUALIFIED STAFF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG,+ PROFESSOR RENSON SAID.

/AT PRESENT