XN000022-1993-07-14 — Page 28

WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 1993

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THE DISTRICT POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICERS ARE INVOLVED IN A NUMBER OF SCHEMES SUCH AS THE JUNIOR POLICE CALL, THE NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE SCHEME AND SCHOOL LIAISON SCHEME.

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"THEY ALSO MAINTAIN CLOSE CONTACT WITH AREA COMMITTEES, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, OWNERS CORPORATIONS AND SIMILAR ORGANISATIONS, MR ASPREY SAID.

MORE INFIRMARY BEDS FOR ELDERLY

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A TOTAL OF 1,114 NEW INFIRMARY BEDS WOULD COME ON STREAM IN THE YEARS FROM NOW TO 1998/99 TO MEET THE INCREASING NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY REQUIRING MEDICAL SERVICES, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON FREDERICK FUNG, THE SECRETARY SAID PLANS WERE BEING FORMULATED BY THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY TO REDESIGNATE ABOUT 500 GENERAL BEDS AND ΤΟ CONVERT SOMR HOSPITAL FACILITIES AS AN ADDITIONAL SUPPLY OF INFIRMARY BEDS.

IN ADDITION TO INFIRMARY PLACES, MRS WONG SAID, THE GOVERNMENT WAS ALSO FOCUSING ON THE PROVISION OF OUTREACH SERVICE.

THIS WOULD BE DONE THROUGH THE SETTING UP OF COMMUNITY-BASED GERIATIC SERVICE WHICH WOULD PROVIDE PRE-REGISTRATION ASSESSMENT MEDICAL CARE FOR THE ELDERLY OUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL ENVIRONMENT.

AND

SPECIALIST SUPPORT WOULD BE GIVEN TO SUBVENTED CARE-AND- ATTENTION HOMES, SHE ADDED.

"COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE AND DOMICILIARY OCCUPATIONAL THERARY ARE ALSO IN PLACE TO PRIOVIDE PROFESSIONAL CARE AND SUPPORT TO ELDERLY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THOSE WHO CARE FOR THEM," SHE SAID.

MORE, DISTRICT-BASED CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEES ARE BEING FORMED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, NON- GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CO-ORDINATE SERVICE REQUIREMENTS.

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