XN000022-1995-06-21 — Page 53

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Hospice care to AIDS patients

Following is a question by Dr the Hon Conrad Lam Kui-shing and a written reply by the Secretary for Health and Welfare, Mrs Katherine Fok, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Regarding the allocation of additional funds to provide hospice care to an additional 400 patients this year, will the Government inform this Council:

(a)

whether terminal AIDS patients are eligible to receive hospice care under this additional quota; if not, why not;

(b) what are the differences, if any, between the hospice care available to

AIDS patients and that available to other terminal patients; and

હ

(c)

of the Government's short-term, medium-term and long-term strategies of providing hospice care to AIDS patients, as well as the resources required?

Reply:

Hospice care in public hospitals is provided on a referral basis. It has hitherto catered for terminal cancer patients who constitute the bulk of the terminally ill. The need to expand hospice care services to other patients is recognised, and in view of the present small number of AIDS patients, the Hospital Authority is planning to designate initially one hospice care unit to take care of these patients.

Given the nature of the illness, carers providing hospice services to AIDS patients require special training and preparation to cater for the fluctuating medical conditions and specific needs of these patients. It is expected that AIDS patients would also require more home-based services as well as psycho-social support and counselling.

Whilst in the long term the provision of hospice care will be extended on a need basis to all hospice units in public hospitals, the AIDS Trust Fund provides a source of funding for non-profit making organisations to develop service initiatives in this relatively new area.

End/Wednesday, June 21, 1995