TNAG-1733-FCO40-2446-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 40

of the Hospital Authority will make this possible.

Secretary for Health and Welfare

DR. IP:

Sir,

said that acute cases

are handled right away.

Is

he

aware

that

after

admission to

a

is,

Queen Mary Hospital, elderly persons with/ fractured

femur which

with f

of

course,

an acute

case,

sometimes have to wait for a few

months before surgery can be done because of an

inadequate number of anaesthetic sessions for orthopaedic

surgery?

SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE:

Sir,

I was not aware of

this particular problem but I will draw this to the

attention of the director.

MR. EDWARD HO: What is the target for the reduced waiting time?

SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE:

Sir, once again I have

to say that the situation varies very much between different

specialties and depends on the severity of the

conditions. In some minor conditions, it is quite acceptable

for a patient to have to wait several months before an