TNAG-0507-FCO40-572-Development-of-medical-and-health-services-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 118

G.F. 323

CONFIDENTIAL # Z

機密

Chapter 6

SECURING A MORE EVEN USE OF HOSPITAL BEDS

6.1

The introduction of this coordinated and regionally

based approach to medical and health services and the

establishment of more widely based regional administrative

offices will make it possible to institute new and more

effective arrangements to secure a more even use of the

general beds available in Government and Government-

assisted hospitals.

6.2

While there is overcrowding in Government hospitals,

the occupancy rates in Government-assisted hospitals are

generally lower than is desirable. This involves an

uneconomic use of expensive resources which, if not

corrected, would require a degree of overprovision in the

Government sector to allow for underuse elsewhere. Not

only should the fullest use be made of all beds and equipment

but, given the very high cost of acute beds in particular, it is necessary to ensure that patients are treated with the

level of staff and facilities which are appropriate to

their ailments. A patient is in need of the more

sophisticated and specialised facilities for only part of

his stay in hospital. Depending on the course of treatment

required, therefore, he should continue the remainder of

his in-patient treatment in a bed with appropriate but

less sophisticated facilities.

6.3

The development of arrangements of this kind

would mean that patients should generally first attend a

general out-patients clinic or hospital casualty department

in case of emergencies. Where treatment can be continued

on an out-patient basis but requires specialist attention

a patient would normally be referred to a specialist

/clini

CONFIDENTIAL 機密