XN000022-1988-08-04 — Page 8

7

THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 1988

IN

LINE

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE PROVISION OF THESE SERVICES WAS WITH THE CONTEMPORARY VIEW REGARDING TREATMENT FOR PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM MENTAL DISORDERS.

PATIENTS OUTSIDE LONG-STAY REHABILITATION AND BARLY THE COMMUNITY AND AL80 TO

"THE PRESENT THINKING IS TO TREAT CUSTODIAL ASYLUM SO AS TO SPEED UP INTEGRATION OF THE PATIENTS BACK INTO OBVIATE THE STIGMA OF HAVING TO STAY IN A MENTAL INSTITUTION.'

H

SIR DAVID SAID THAT BY 1996, THE NUMBER OF MENTAL HOSPITAL BEDS WOULD BE BOOSTED BY MORE THAN 50 PER CENT TO 6,300. THE PRESENT PROVISION IS OVER 4,000 BEDS IN SEVEN HOSPITALS.

THE NEW BEDS ARE TO BE PROVIDED IN PSYCHIATRIC UNITS OF NEW GENERAL HOSPITALS OR EXTENSION PROJECTS OF EXISTING HOSPITALS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE NEW TUEN MUN HOSPITAL WILL HAVE 136 BEDS.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING TO OPEN NINE PSYCHIATRIC DAY HOSPITALS OR CENTRES, WHICH WILL PROVIDE ANOTHER 360 PLACES FOR THE MENTALLY ILL. THE EXISTING NUMBER OF PLACES 18 475.

THE DAY CENTRES ARR INTERACT SOCIALLY, LEARN SOME ACTIVITIES.

OPERATED ΤΟ HELP MENTAL PATIENTS TO SKILLS AND TO PARTICIPATE IN GROUP

FOR OUT-PATIENT SERVICES, THE NUMBER OF CLINICS WILL INCREASE FROM 15 TO 21.

FOUR MORE PSYCHIATRIC COMMUNITY NURSING CENTRES ARE ALSO BRING PLANNED TO PROVIDE AFTER CARE TREATMENT FOR DISCHARGED PATIENTS.

THE ACTING GOVERNOR PAID A VISIT TO KWAI CHUNG HOSPITAL THIS AFTERNOON TO OBTAIN FISRT HAND INFORMATION ON THE OPERATION OF A MENTAL HOSPITAL. HE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR .L. THONG, ON HIS VISIT.

BIR DAVTD WAS FIRST TAKEN TO SEE AN ACUTE WARD PATIENTS, FOLLOWED BY A VISIT TO A CHILD PSYCHIATRIC WARD.

HE THEN TOURED THE PATIENTS SOCIAL CENTRE WHERE SOME PATIENTS TAKING PART IN RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

FOR FEMALE

HE WATCHED

SIR DAVID WAS ALSO TAKEN TO THE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY DEPARTMENT WHERE PATIENTS WERE TAUGHT VARIOUS SKILLS 'SUCH AS TAILORING, SEWING AND PRINTING.

HE MADE A FINAL STOP AT THE PSYCHIATRIC NURSING SCHOOL TO SEE HOW STUDENT NURSES WERE BEING TRAINED FOR THEIR JOB.

BEFORE ENDING HIS VISIT, SIR DAVID HAD A DISCUSSION WITH SENIOR STAFF OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE HOSPITAL.

18