Estimates-1959 — Page 183

184

New posts

Supernumerary Staff

11 Medical Officers and Assistant

Medical Officers (8*)

1 Dental Surgeon

1 Assistant Almoner

1 Nursing Sister (1*)

1 Confidential Assistant (1*)

442

Existing posts deleted

2 Medical Officers and Assistant

Medical Officers

1 Assistant Chemist

1 Laboratory Assistant

1 Dispenser

59

*

Approved by Special Warrant during the year.

There are eight additional posts of Specialist, one each in General Surgery, Orthopaedics, Thoracic Surgery, Neuro Surgery, Ear Nose & Throat, Radiology (Diagnostic), Anaesthetics, and Medicine.

The 19 additional posts of medical officer are required for Orthopaedic surgery (1), Chest and general surgery (1), Genito urinary and general surgery (1), Ophthalmic (2), Anaes- thetics (3), Tuberculosis (2), Paediatric (1), Clinics (2), New projects (3) and training for Radio- logists in the new Kowloon Hospital (3).

The increases in nursing staff due to expansion of activities are 1 Matron Class I, 11 Nursing Sisters, 13 Nurses, 10 Health Sisters, 8 Male Nurses (Psychiatric) and 8 Nurses (Psychiatric). The new Kowloon Hospital also accounts for 6 posts of Dispenser, 8 of Physio- therapist and Assistant Physiotherapist, 13 of Radiographic Assistant, and 50 of Student Nurse; all of these officers are required to undergo a lengthy period of training prior to the opening of the hospital. The other new posts are required to improve the expanding medical services in existing hospitals, clinics and dispensaries.

These changes, together with normal increments, account for the increase of $2,833,990

in the vote for personal emoluments.

Under Other Charges Annually Recurrent the additional expenditure is due to the expansion of medical services, the main increases being $1,000,000 for drugs and dressings, $250,000 for operating expenses of the radiology sub-department; $200,000 for medical instru- ments; and $100,000 for operating expenses of the anti-malaria bureau. The net increase for Other Charges Annually Recurrent is $1,844,720.

Under Special Expenditure $150,000 is required to replace the lift in the main entrance hall of the Queen Mary Hospital; $32,000 to provide a Mobile Dental Surgery; and $93,000 for a new X-ray unit for Kowloon Hospital. The provision for equipment for new institutions includes $1,000,000 for Sai Ying Poon Polyclinic; $49,600 for Hung Hom Maternity Home; and $25,500 for the new Central Public Dispensary. Other items are $133,500 for operating theatre equipment; $78,000 for physiotherapy equipment; $86,300 for dental equipment. The revotes include $130,000 for the lift for the North Wing of Queen Mary Hospital and $125,000 for a Mobile X-ray Unit.

HEAD 19 MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES

Estimate 1958/59

Revised estimate 1957/58

Approved estimate 1957/58

Actual expenditure 1956/57

$11,520,000

10,603,000

7,064,800

19,128,548

Grants of $750,000 each to the J. E. Joseph Trust Fund and the Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Loan Fund for interest-free loans to distressed farmers following the rainstorms in May, 1957, a payment of $500,000 to the District Commissioner, New Territories to set up a special fund for the general rehabilitation of distressed farmers in the New Territories, and estimated additional expenditure of $730,000 and $300,000 for transport of Government officers and refunds of revenue respectively account for the increased revised estimate for 1957/58.