XN000022-1987-04-29 — Page 8

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1987

7.

QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL EXTENSION TOPPED OUT

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THE GOVERNMENT IS FULLY COMMITTED TO THE PROVISION OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES TO MEET EXPECTED POPULATION GROWTH AND TO IMPROVING STANDARDS WHENEVER THE OPPORTUNITY ARISES, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, MR DAVID FORD, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE TOPPING OUT OF A $389 MILLION EXTENSION TO QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL AT POKFULAM.

MR FORD SAID MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES MADE UP ABOUT SEVEN PER CENT OF TOTAL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE AND THE CURRENT YEAR PROVISION WAS SEVEN PER CENT ABOVE LAST YEAR'S ALLOCATION.

HE SAID THE TOPPING-OUT CEREMONY MARKED A SIGNIFICANT STEP TOWARDS COMPLETION OF THE QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL EXTENSION PROGRAMME WHICH BEGAN IN 1982.

TO DATE, STAGE OF THE PROGRAMME HAD BEEN COMPLETED WITH A NEW COMPUTERISED SCANNING UNIT AND A NEW PHYSIOTHERAPY DEPARTMENT ALREADY IN OPERATION.

ON COMPLETION OF STAGE II IN MID-1989, THE DEVELOPMENT WOULD ADD 844 BEDS TO THE HOSPITAL, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER TO OVER 2 100.

+THE EXPANSION IS NEEDED TO MEET AN INCREASING DEMAND ON THE HOSPITAL WHICH HAS A BED OCCUPANCY RATE CONSISTENTLY ABOVE 85 PER CENT, AND AT TIMES EXCEEDING 90 PER CENT, MR FORD SAID.

THE MAJOR AREAS OF EXPANSION WERE IN PAEDIATRICS AND PSYCHIATRY, BUT OTHER DEPARTMENTS WOULD ALSO BE GIVEN A SHARE OF THE ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION MADE AVAILABLE ON THE VACATION OF THE EXISTING PAEDIATRIC AND PSYCHIATRIC WARDS.

IN ADDITION TO BEING THE REGIONAL HOSPITAL FOR THE WHOLE OF HONG KONG ISLAND, QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL ALSO PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN TRAINING MEDICAL PERSONNEL, PROVIDING BACK UP TEACHING AND RESEARCH FACILITIES TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG FOR BOTH UNDERGRADUATE AND POST-GRADUATE MEDICAL TRAINING.

FOLLOWING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF CONSULTANTS APPOINTED TO REVIEW THE RANGE OF TEACHING FACILITIES IN HONG KONG, THE PRESENT DEVELOPMENT ALSO SOUGHT TO IMPROVE THE HOSPITAL ENVIRONMENT AND ENHANCE THE STANDARDS OF TEACHING FACILITIES THROUGH THE MODERNISATION OF DIAGNOSTIC, TREATMENT AND CLINICAL SUPPORT SERVICES,

HE SAID.

J

/MR FORD