XN000022-1987-03-11 — Page 42

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1987

40

MOST RECOMMENDATIONS IN EX-MENTAL PATIENT REPORT ACCEPTED *****

NINETEEN OF THE 32 RECOMMENDATIONS CONTAINED IN THE REPORT OF THE WORKING GROUP ON EX-MENTAL PATIENTS WITH A HISTORY OF CRIMINAL VIOLENCE HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED AND HAVE BEEN FULLY IMPLEMENTED OR ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BEING IMPLEMENTED, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HUI YIN-FAT, HE SAID THAT THE MORE IMPORTANT OF THESE INCLUDED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CENTRAL REGISTRY, THE USE OF MULTI-DISCIPLINARY CASE CONFERENCES, INCREASED OUTREACH SERVICES, THE STEPPING-UP OF PUBLICITY MEASURES, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMUNITY WORK AND AFTERCARE UNITS AND THE PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL HALF-WAY HOUSE PLACES.

+IN ADDITION, 11 RECOMMENDATIONS REQUIRING CHANGES IN THE LAW HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED IN A BILL TO AMEND THE MENTAL HEALTH ORDINANCE (CAP. 136).

+ EXPECT THAT THIS BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THIS COUNCIL WITHIN THE CURRENT SESSION, SUBJECT TO THE AGREEMENT OF THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL, HE SAID.

MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT ONLY TWO OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS HAD NOT BEEN ACCEPTED.

THE FIRST OF THESE WAS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY SQUAD, TO PROVIDE ON-THE-SPOT HELP FOR MENTAL PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, SHOULD BE EXAMINED.

+THE CONCLUSION WAS THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE A VERY APPROPRIATE WAY OF DEALING WITH SUCH SITUATIONS, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE PATIENT WAS VIOLENT NOR WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE TERRITORY-WIDE COVERAGE WITH THE LIMITED STAFF RESOURCES AVAILABLE.+

THE SECOND RECOMMENDATION THAT WAS NOT ACCEPTED WAS THAT A FULL-TIME PSYCHIATRIST SHOULD BE PROVIDED FOR THE SIU LAM PSYCHIATRIC CENTRE.

+IN THIS CASE IT WAS CONSIDERED THAT THE EXISTING ARRANGEMENT OF TWO VISITING PSYCHIATRISTS WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE PROPOSED CONSULTANT POST WITH OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED,+ HE SAID.

741