XN000022-1990-07-23 — Page 5

MONDAY, JULY 23, 1990

CAN BE

FOLLOWING THE CLOSURE OF THE HOSPITAL, MATERNITY CASES

15 MATERNITY BEDS TAKEN TO TAI O JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC, WHICH OPERATES AND SHOULD HAVE SUFFICIENT CAPACITY TO CATER FOR DEMAND.

AS FOR ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY AND COP SERVICES, THE AVERAGE WERE ONLY DAILY ATTENDANCES AT SOUTH LANTAO HOSPITAL IN 1985 TO 1989 6.7 AND 14.6 RESPECTIVELY.

IN 1989, THERE WERE 6.1 AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCES FOR ACCIDENT

12 FOR AND EMERGENCY AND

GOP. THESE REPRESENT AN EXTREMELY LOW UTILISATION RATE.

GREATER EFFORTS NEEDED TO BALANCE RESIDENTIAL SERVICES FOR ELDERLY

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GREATER EFFORTS AND PRIORITY FOR RESOURCES WILL BE NEEDED IN THE COMING YEARS TO BALANCE THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND FOR RESIDENTIAL SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY PEOPLE.

THIS WAS SAID TODAY (MONDAY) BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR M.D. CARTLAND, WHEN ADDRESSING THE INAUGURATION OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (1990-92) OF TUEN MUN DISTRICT RESPECT FOR THE AGED ASSOCIATION,

HE NOTED THAT A BIG MAJORITY OF ELDERLY PEOPLE WOULD REMAIN IN THE COMMUNITY EITHER WITH THEIR FAMILIES OR LOOKING AFTER THEMSELVES.

"WHERE NECESSARY THEY CAN BE ASSISTED BY HOME HELP SERVICES, SOCIAL CENTRES, DAY CARE CENTRES AND OTHER SUCH SERVICES DESIGNED TO ENABLE THEM TO REMAIN IN A FAMILIAR ENVIRONMENT, MR CARTLAND SAID.

"UNFORTUNATELY THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A RELATIVELY SMALL PROPORTION OF ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO CAN NO LONGER BE LOOKED AFTER SATISFACTORILY IN THEIR HOMES.

"FOR THEM A VARIETY OF RESIDENTIAL SERVICES ARE NEEDED INCLUDING HOSTELS, HOMES FOR THE AGED AND CARE-AND-ATTENTION HOMES, HE SAID.

THE GOVERNMENT AND THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR WERE ACTIVELY EXPANDING SERVICES IN THIS AREA, HE SAID.

MR CARTLAND, HOWEVER, POINTED OUT THAT THE SERVICES WERE STILL INADEQUATE, PARTICULARLY OF CARE-AND-ATTENTION HOMES.

HE CALLED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF MORE NON-PROFIT-MAKING SELF-FINANCING HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY.

TURNING TO THE WORK OF THE ASSOCIATION, MR CARTLAND PAID TRIBUTE TO ITS EFFORTS IN KEEPING THE ELDERLY ACTIVE AND INTERESTED, ADDING THAT ALL ITS WORK CERTAINLY HELPED ELDERLY PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT LEAD A HEALTHIER AND RICHER LIFE.

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