XN000022-1993-12-08 — Page 32

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1993

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"OWNERS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THEIR BUILDINGS AFTER FLOODING OR HEAVY RAIN SHOULD NORMALLY SEEK PROFESSIONAL ADVICE.

то

"WHERE THERE IS MORE IMMEDIATE CONCERN, A REPORT SHOULD BE MADE THE DANGEROUS BUILDINGS SECTION OF THE BUILDINGS DEPARTMENT, MR KWAN SAID.

"

TREATMENT OF PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS AT PUBLIC HOSPITALS

ALL PATIENTS,

THE

INCLUDING PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS, ATTENDING ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS OF PUBLIC HOSPITALS ARE TREATED BY MEDICAL STAFF TRAINED TO HANDLE A FULL RANGE OF EMERGENCIES.

SUBJECT TO TRIAGE, URGENT CASES WILL RECEIVE IMMEDIATE TREATMENT WHILE THE AVERAGE WAITING TIME FOR OTHER CASES IS LESS THAN 30 MINUTES.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, DR S H LEE, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MICHAEL HO MUN-KA IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

HE SAID PATIENTS WHO VOLUNTEERED FOR ADMISSION TO PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS FROM ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS DID NOT HAVE TO WAIT.

FOR THOSE ADMITTED UNDER THE MENTAL HEALTH ORDINANCE, THE ACTUAL WAITING TIME WOULD VARY BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO COMPLY WITH RELEVANT PROVISIONS FOR AUTHORISATION BY A MEDICAL DOCTOR AND A JUDGE.

PATIENTS IN GENERAL HOSPITALS WHO SUFFER SEVERE SYMPTOMS ARE REFERRED UNDER THE ORDINANCE FOR TREATMENT IN PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTIONS.

DR

LEE ADDED THAT WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF NETWORKING, ADVICE AND CONSULTATION SERVICES ON PSYCHIATRIC CASES WERE SHARED BETWEEN PUBLIC HOSPITALS AND THE AVERAGE WAITING TIME OF CONSULTATIONS FOR NON-URGENT CASES WAS WITHIN THREE DAYS.

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