XN000022-1986-08-14 — Page 6

THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 1986

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SIR DAVID INSPECTS QE HOSPITAL

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THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, TODAY (THURSDAY) VISITED THE 1 938-BED QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL WHICH IS THE REGIONAL HOSPITAL FOR KOWLOON.

HE WAS MET ON ARRIVAL BY THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR K.L. THONG, AND SENIOR OFFICIALS OF THE DEPARTMENT AND THE HOSPITAL.

SIR DAVID FIRST WENT TO THE ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT WHERE HE WAS TOLD THAT THE AVERAGE DAILY NUMBER OF ATTENDANCES IS ABOUT 700 AND THAT THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF ATTENDANCES RECORDED IN ONE DA" WAS 996 CASES. TWO-THIRDS OF THE HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS ARE ADMITTED THROUGH THE ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ADMISSIONS LAST YEAR WAS 139 124.

SIR DAVID NEXT TOURED THE RADIODIAGNOSTIC DEPARTMENT AND THE RADIOTHERAPY DEPARTMENT WHICH ARE HOUSED IN THE INSTITUTE OF RADIOLOGY.

THE TWO CONSULTANTS IN CHARGE OF THE INSTITUTE EXPLAINED TO HIM THE FUNCTIONS OF VARIOUS ITEMS OF EQUIPMENT INCLUDING THE LINEAR ACCELERATOR, RADIOTHERAPY COMPUTER PLANNING SYSTEM, ULTRA-SOUND MACHINĚ AND THE CAT SCANNER.

SIR DAVID WAS TOLD THAT IN ONE YEAR OVER 57 000 TREATMENTS ARE GIVEN TO PATIENTS BY THE RADIOTHERAPY DEPARTMENT AND THAT 250 000 RADIOGRAPHIC EXAMINATIONS ARE CARRIED OUT BY THE RADIODIAGNOSTIC DEPARTMENT.

THE ACTING GOVERNOR LATER ALSO VISITED THE CORONARY CARE UNIT, THE PAEDIATRIC UNIT AND THE INTENSIVE THERAPY UNIT IN THE HOSPITAL.

AT THE END OF THE VISIT, SIR DAVID HELD A BRIEF DISCUSSION IN THE HOSPITAL LIBRARY WITH THE DIRECTOR AND THE SENIOR STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT AND THE HOSPITAL.

DURING THE DISCUSSION, HE WAS TOLD THAT THE HOSPITAL HAS ABOUT 4 000 STAFF INCLUDING 405 DOCTORS AND 1 695 NURSES.

THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE FOR THE HOSPITAL LAST YEAR WAS $437 MILLION AND THE COST OF MAINTAINING EACH BED IS ABOUT $900 DAILY.

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