XN000022-1993-11-30 — Page 21

20

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1993

AND

PUBLIC EDUCATION WOULD USE

**WE SHOULD OVERCOME SUCH OPPOSITION BY MORE PUBLICITY," DR LEE STATED, ADDING THAT THE GOVERNMENT $31 MILLION ON PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

ON THE HEALTH SIDE, DR LEE NOTED THAT THE REPORT OF THE WORKING PARTY ON PRIMARY HEALTH CARE PUBLISHED IN DECEMBER 1990 AFFIRMED THE POLICY OF COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE AND MADE A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO PROMOTE HEALTH EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE.

APART FROM THE PROVISION OF IN-PATIENT AND OUT-PATIENT MEDICAL SERVICES, OUTREACHING HEALTH SERVICES ARE ALSO BEING DEVELOPED.

THESE

INCLUDE

COMMUNITY

GERIATRIC,

REHABILITATION AND COMMUNITY PSYCHIATRIC TEAMS.

PSYCHOGERIATRIC,

THE TEAMS COMPRISE HEALTH AND PARA-MEDICAL PERSONNEL WHO REACH OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE AND ASSESSMENT SERVICES TO THE ELDERLY AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

"THE PRINCIPAL AIM OF COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE IS TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN HOSPITAL TREATMENT AND OUT-PATIENT CARE BY PROMOTING SELF- RELIANCE AND BY PROVIDING COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES, DR LEE TOLD THE GATHERING.

HOSPITALS

"BY REDUCING UNNECESSARY HOSPITALISATION OF PATIENTS, CAN CONCENTRATE THEIR RESOURCES ON THE TREATMENT OF THE ACUTELY ILL AND THOSE WHO NEED INTENSIVE MEDICAL CARE, HE ADDED.

*

TURNING ΤΟ THE WELFARE SIDE, DR LEE POINTED OUT THAT THE WORKING PARTY ON THE FUTURE NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY CONCLUDED IN 1973 THAT THE RIGHT APPROACH WAS TO CONCENTRATE ON CARE IN THE COMMUNITY',

THE "SOCIAL WELFARE INTO THE 1980'S WHITE PAPER" IN 1979 REAFFIRMED THE POLICY OF COMMUNITY CARE AND RECOMMENDED THE PROMOTION OF THE WELL-BEING OF THE ELDERLY "THROUGH CARE IN THE COMMUNITY AND BY THE COMMUNITY".

THE

THE PRESENT POLICY, AS SET OUT IN THE "1991 SOCIAL WELFARE INTO THE 1990'S AND BEYOND WHITE PAPER", AIMS TO ENCOURAGE THE CARE OF ELDERLY BY FAMILY MEMBERS WITHIN A FAMILY CONTEXT AND то STRENGTHEN SUPPORT FOR THE CARERS.

"HOWEVER, IT IS RECOGNISED THAT THE NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY VARY AND THAT RESIDENTIAL CARE MAY BE REQUIRED FOR SOME ELDERLY PERSONS WHO CANNOT BE TAKEN CARE OF AT HOME.

"THE BROAD AIM OF SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY IS TO ENABLE THEM TO REMAIN AT HOME FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

"THESE SERVICES INCLUDE HOME HELP SERVICE, THE ELDERLY, MULTI-SERVICE CENTRES AND DAY CARE ADDED.

4.

SOCIAL CENTRES FOR CENTRES, DR LEE

AS

REGARDS REHABILITATION, DR LEE SAID THE PRESENT POLICY BASED ON THE CONCEPT OF "HAVING RESOURCES FOR REHABILITATION AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY",

WAS

/AS PAR