XN000022-1993-03-24 — Page 6

4

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1993

MR

EASON SAID THESE CHANGES INCLUDED SETTING ASIDE AN ADJUSTABLE SUB-QUOTA WITHIN THE COMPASSIONATE REHOUSING QUOTA AND RAISING THE INCOME ELIGIBILITY LIMIT FROM THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE TO THE GENERAL WAITING LIST LEVEL.

OTHER CHANGES INCLUDED ALLOWING A DIVORCEE AND HIS OR HER CHILDREN TO BE ADDED TO THE TENANCY OF PARENTS ALREADY IN PUBLIC HOUSING; ACCEPTING RECOMMENDATIONS ON SUCH CASES

BY APPROVED NON- GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS; AND ENSURING THAT APPLICATIONS PROCESSED WITHIN THREE MONTHS AS FAR AS PRACTICABLE, HE ADDED.

WERE

0

-

MORE INFIRMARY BEDS IN THE PIPELINE * * * * *

THE NUMBER OF INFIRMARY BEDS IN HONG KONG AT THE END OF YEAR STOOD AT 1,366, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, ELIZABETH WONG, SAID.

LAST MRS

AN ADDITIONAL 90 BEDS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE SHATIN INFIRMARY AND CONVALESCENT HOSPITAL UPON ITS FULL COMMISSIONING IN 1993/94, SHE ADDED.

MRS WONG SAID IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON FREDERICK FUNG KIN-KEE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT PLANS WERE IN HAND TO REDESIGNATE 500 GENERAL BEDS IN OTHER HOSPITALS AS INFIRMARY BEDS.

"FURTHERMORE, COMMUNITY GERIATRIC/INFIRMARY TEAMS WILL BE SET UP BY THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY IN COLLABORATION WITH SOCIAL WELFARE ORGANISATIONS TO IMPROVE INTERFACE WITH CARE AND ATTENTION HOMES, SHE

SAID.

AS REGARDS THE DEMAND FOR INFIRMARY SERVICES, MRS WONG GAVE THE

FOLLOWING STATISTICS:

票

5,361 APPLICANTS WERE RECORDED BUT NOT MEDICALLY ASSESSED ON THE CENTRAL WAITING LIST AS AT MARCH 15, 1993;

* ABOUT 3,600 RESIDENTS IN PRIVATE HOMES FOR THE AGED COULD BE CLASSIFIED AS IN NEED OF MEDICAL INFIRMARY SERVICES AS AT MARCH 1, 1993; AND

*

752 ELDERLY PERSONS CURRENTLY STAYING IN RESIDENTIAL CARE INSTITUTIONS SUBVENTED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WERE CLASSIFIED AS IN NEED OF MEDICAL INFIRMARY SERVICES AS AT MARCH 1, 1993.

15