XN000022-1994-03-02 — Page 64

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1994

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AT PRESENT, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OPERATES AN EARLY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM UNDER WHICH SCHOOLS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT BY TELEPHONE ABSENCE WITHOUT PERMISSION FOR SEVEN DAYS.

THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE REQUIREMENT REPORTS INVOLVING UNAUTHORISED ABSENCE OF 14 DAYS.

TO FURNISH WRITTEN

"UPON RECEIPT OF REPORTS OF SUSPECTED DROP-OUTS FROM SCHOOLS, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL ASSESS THE REASONS FOR THEIR ABSENCE FROM CLASS AND, IN THE LIGHT OF FINDINGS, SEEK TO PLACE THE STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS MOST ABLE TO MEET THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS, MR LEUNG EXPLAINED.

It

"THIS PROCESS REQUIRES THE CO-OPERATION OF PARENTS, SCHOOLS AND THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES.

"IT TAKES ABOUT TWO MONTHS FOR STRAIGHT-FORWARD CASES AND THREE OR FOUR MONTHS WHEN PROFESSIONAL ASSESSMENT AND COUNSELLING ARE INVOLVED."

THE DEPARTMENT SEEKS TO RETURN THE STUDENTS TO THE ORIGINAL SCHOOLS OR, IF APPROPRIATE, FACILITATE PROMPT PLACEMENT IN ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS.

MR LEUNG ADDED THAT THE CODE OF AID WAS BEING AMENDED ΤΟ CLARIFY THE DIRECTOR'S POWERS TO PLACE STUDENTS IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES.

REHABILITATION CARE FOR IN-PATIENTS

AT

THERE WERE 258 PHYSIOTHERAPISTS AND 463 OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS PROVIDING REHABILITATION CARE TO PATIENTS IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS AS THE END OF DECEMBER LAST YEAR, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID.

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HUANG CHEN-YA IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), MRS WONG POINTED OUT THAT NURSING STAFF WERE TRAINED TO PROVIDE GENERAL PATIENT CARE, INCLUDING REHABILITATION SERVICES.

THE ALL

OF THE 288 DOCTORS WORKING IN THE SPECIALTIES OF GERIATRICS, RESPIRATORY MEDICINE AND ORTHOPAEDICS AND TRAUMATOLOGY, 100 HAVE ALSO RECEIVED TRAINING IN THEIR RESPECTIVE SPECIALTIES WITH A SIGNIFICANT COMPONENT OF REHABILITATION CARE.

IN 1992/93, THERE WERE ABOUT 90,000 IN-PATIENTS REQUIRING REHABILITATION CARE MAINLY IN GERIATRIC, PULMONARY AND ORTHOPAEDIC SERVICES.

THEIR AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY WAS 18 DAYS.

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