XN000022-1986-07-10 — Page 5

THURSDAY, JULY 10, 1986

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THE CHARGE FOR COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE WOULD ALSO REMAIN AT

IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE FEE REVISION WOULD BRING AN ADDITIONAL REVENUE OF ABOUT $13 MILLION A YEAR.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT EVEN WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW CHARGES, MEDICAL SERVICES WOULD STILL BE HEAVILY SUBSIDISED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO CONSIDER THE POLICY ON THE STRUCTURE OF HOSPITAL AND CLINIC FEES AND CHARGES AFTER CONSIDERATION OF THE AUSTRALIAN CONSULTANCY REPORT ON DELIVERY OF MEDICAL SERVICES IN HOSPITALS.

MORE CHILD CARE CENTRES ARE PLANNED ****

THE GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING TO SET UP 15 CHILD CARE CENTRES EVERY YEAR TO PROVIDE 1 500 PLACES IN ACCORDANCE WITH PRESENT DEVELOPMENT PLANS, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS EVELYN DOE, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

SPEAKING TO GRADUATES OF A CHILD CARE COURSE AT LEE WAI LEE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, MRS DOE POINTED OUT THAT THESE PLANS AIMED AT MEETING THE INCREASING DEMAND FOR CHILD CARE SERVICES RESULTING FROM A RISE IN THE NUMBER OF WORKING MOTHERS.

AT PRESENT, THERE ARE MORE THAN 26 000 PLACES IN 257 CENTRES OFFERING RESIDENTIAL AND DAY CARE SERVICES FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF SIX. THERE ARE ALSO 2 197 TRAINED CHILD CARE WORKERS, WHICH REPRESENTS 88 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF 2 499 CHILD CARE WORKERS IN THE FIELD.

MRS: DOE NOTED THAT THE INSTITUTE PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN TRAINING CHILD CARE WORKERS, AND IT WAS CONSTANTLY IMPROVING THE CURRICULUM TO MEET CURRENT NEEDS.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN VIEW OF THE DEVELOPMENTS IN SPECIAL CHILD CARE CENTRES AND INTEGRATED PROGRAMMES, THE INSTITUTE WAS STRENGTHENING ITS CURRICULUM FOR THE CARE OF MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN.

THE HEAD OF THE INSTITUTE'S GENERAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT, MR h.Y. NG, SAID COURSES FOR CHILD CARE WORKERS WERE BEING EXPANDED.

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