X1000306-1960-61_Part01 — Page 43

306. The Board also undertakes the immunization of candidates appointed to posts which carry special risks. Immunization procedures consist of tuberculin testing and Schick testing followed by B.C.G. or diphtheria toxoid vaccination as required and T.A.B. inoculations.

BLOOD BANKS

307, The blood donation centre, maintained by the Hong Kong Branch of the British Red Cross Society on the Hong Kong waterfront, continued to collect and distribute blood to the Blood Banks at the Queen Mary and Kowloon Hospitals; the laboratory work in connexion with blood donations was undertaken by the Government Institute of Pathology.

308. Although the greater part of the blood donated again came from members of the Armed Services or from visiting Royal Navy and United States warships, there is a gradually increasing band of regular donors amongst the Chinese residents and the Donors Club, under the guidance of the Chairman of the Hong Kong Branch of the British Red Cross Society, continued to expand its activities. In addition, a considerable amount of blood is donated directly to the Blood Banks by relatives of patients in the various hospitals. The sources and distri- bution of blood received by the Blood Banks during the past two years are detailed in Tables 42 and 43.

TABLE 42

SOURCES OF BLOOD DONATED 1959-60

6,860 pints 712 pints 74 pints

7,646 pints

British Red Cross Society

Patients' Relatives and Friends

Other sources

Total received

TABLE 43

DISTRIBUTION OF BLOOD 1959-60

Government Hospitals

Government-Assisted Hospitals

5,383 piols 1,400 pints

Private Hospitals

231 pints

15 pints

Manufacture of Plasma

105 pints

Unusable due to various causes

400 pints

Total issued

7,534 pints

Military Hospitals

HOSPITAL MAINTENANCE AND SUPPLY

309. This branch of the Medical and Health Department is the re- sponsibility of the Chief Hospital Secretary, assisted by a staff of Hospital and Assistant Hospital Secretaries. There are two group Hospital Secretaries, one at the Queen Mary Hospital and the other at Kowloon Hospital, who are responsible for the routine supply and lay administra- tion of the medical institutions on their respective sides of the harbour. In addition, one Hospital Secretary is working in the Planning Unit at Headquarters and another is stationed at the Castle Peak Hospital. Assistant Hospital Secretaries are posted to major institutions within the two main groups.

310. The function of this branch is the maintenance of the routine administrative work in the hospitals and clinics. This includes the supply of fuel, rations and medical and surgical equipment, the main- tenance of equipment and furniture, the recruitment and discipline of all male menial staff, the maintenance of transport. the accounting for hospital stores, and the initiation of alterations, maintenance and repair work to the fabric of buildings. The Chief Hospital Secretary is also the Departmental Welfare Officer and the UNICEF. Liaison Officer.

311. During the year, preparations were made to transfer the day- to-day running and maintenance of the steam and engineering services in the major institutions to the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering branch of the Public Works Department.

Staff Welfare

312. The Medical and Health Department Staff Welfare Associa. tion was inaugurated in July 1960, an event closely followed by the formation of a Branch of the Association in Kowloon. Staff recreation centres are provided in the Queen Mary and Kowloon Hospitals and the Association continues to support a number of welfare schemes to aid the families of members or of pensioners; notable assistance was rendered to an Hospital Orderly whose house collapsed during Typhoon Mary with the consequent loss of many of his possessions. 313. A new departure has been undertaken in the Jockey Club Clinic, Sai Ying Pun, where the staff canteen and a light refreshment kiosk for out-patients are being administered by the Association.

314. Staff relations continued to be very good and there were very few cases requiring disciplinary action, in relation to the size of the staff concerned.

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