XN000022-1988-06-22 — Page 8

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 1988

WHEN THE DIRECTOR HAD TO ACT AS GUARDIAN

OF

LAST

RESORT, INTERIM

MR CHAMBERS SAID SUCH ARRANGEMENTS WERE INTENDED TO BE OF AN NATURE ONLY, UNTIL A SUITABLE ALTERNATIVE GUARDIAN COULD BE FOUND.

SOME CONCERN WAS EXPRESSED ABOUT THE CURRENT SHORTAGE OF MANPOWER IN THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WHICH MIGHT AFFECT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW GUARDIANSHIP PROVISIONS.

MR CHAMBERS TOLD THE COUNCIL THE PROVISIONS WOULD BE BROUGHT INTO EFFECT ONCE THE REGULATIONS WERE PASSED, ALTHOUGH FULL IMPLEMENTATION MIGHT NOT BE POSSIBLE UNTIL MORE STAFF RESOURCES WERE AVAILABLE.

TURNING TO CONCERN ABOUT THE SUPERVISION OF THE FINANCIAL AFFAIRS OF THE MENTALLY INCAPACITATED, MR CHAMBERS ASSURED THE COUNCIL THAT ADEQUATE STATUTORY PROVISIONS DID EXIST BOTH IN PART I F OF THE MENTAL HEALTH ORDINANCE AND IN SECTION 12(4) OF THE SUPREME COURT ORDINANCE.

ANOTHER POINT OF CONCERN RELATED ΤΟ POTENTIAL DIFFICULTIES WHEN CONSENT WAS REQUIRED FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT OF MENTALLY HANDICAPPED ADULTS.

"I AM PLEASED TO SAY THAT THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS AGREED TO INTRODUCE A STANDARD FORM ON WHICH THE GUARDIANS OF MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS CAN INDICATE THEIR AGREEMENT ΤΟ MEDICAL TREATMENT, INCLUDING OPERATIONS, BEING CARRIED OUT WHEN NECESSARY, MR CHAMBERS SAID.

ON THE CALL FOR A MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH AND MORE NON-INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES, MR CHAMBERS SAID THE PROVISION OF SUCH SERVICES WAS ENTIRELY CONSISTENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT POLICY OF PROVIDING MORE CARE FOR PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS OUTSIDE MENTAL INSTITUTIONS,

"THE PROVISION OF DAY PLACES IN PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS AND HOME BASED COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICES IS PART OF A GENERAL EFFORT TO TREAT PATIENTS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY WHEREVER POSSIBLE, HE SAID.

..

"A FURTHER ELEMENT IN THIS APPROACH IS THE HALFWAY HOUSE PROGRAMME TO WHICH THE GOVERNMENT IS FULLY COMMITTED.

MR CHAMBERS ALSO REFERRED TO SECTIONS OF THE AMENDED ORDINANCE WHICH PROVIDED FOR THE NECESSARY MEDICAL OPINIONS TO ВЕ GIVEN BY A PRACTITIONER APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES + A DOCTOR WHO HAD SPECIAL EXPERIENCE IN THE DIAGNOSIS OR TREATMENT OF MENTAL DISORDER.

"THE INTENTION IS THAT AN APPROVED PRACTITIONER IN THES CONTEXT SHALL BE A DOCTOR WHO HAS WORKED FOR NOT LESS THAN TURKE YEARS IN THE PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

"AT A LATER DATE WHEN THE SUPPLY OF PSYCHIATRISTS HAS IMPROVED WE HOPE TO REVISE THIS CRITERION,' HE ADDED.

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