X1000306-1960-61_Part01 — Page 44

DNICEF. Projects

315. Despite supply difficulties encountered by U.N.J.C.E.F. during the early part of the year, the skimmed milk distribution was reduced by less than 10 per cent: 102,852 lbs. of milk powder were distributed to welfare organizations throughout the Colony and the total number of supplementary meals given at feeding centres was 1.096,589,

AUXILIARY MEDICAI. SERVICE

316. Recruitment for the Auxiliary Medical Service was contiqued under the provisions of the Essential Service Corps Ordinance, 1950. The Service reached a strength of over 4,500 men and women who, in the event of a major emergency, are trained and available for the expansion of hospital and ambulance services. The Medical Defence Staff Officer is responsible for the routine administration and training activities. The Director of Medical and Health Services is the Unit Controller. The ambulance and first aid sections of the Service come under the opera- tional control of the Civil Aid Services during an emergency.

317. By March 1961, three sub-units were active in the New Terri- lories at Tai Po, Tsuen Wan and Cheung Chau and are progressing well. During Typhoon 'Mary' the members of the sub-unit on Cheung Chau rendered valuable aid in rescue and welfare operations.

318. Emphasis is on training and the First Aid Demonstration teams, one on each side of the harbour, have continued to do very good work. Members of ambulance teams have attended the Casualty Depart- ment of the Queen Mary Hospital regularly at week-ends and have gained valuable experience in the expert handling and treatment of casualties; others have been attached to the Ambulance division of the Fire Services Department where they gain valuable practical experience.

319. Co-operation with the Civil Aid Services continued to be of a high standard. During the year, four combined Civil Defence Exercises were staged which covered most of the urban areas of the Colony. The use of wound-faking and acting techniques have contributed con- siderably to the attainment of a marked degree of realism during these exercises.

320. Over sixty per cent of the members of the Auxiliary Medical Service had their blood groups determined during the year, and a further eighteen per cent notified their individual grouping.

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TABLE 44

WORK OF THE AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICES 1960

Total members

4.558

Number of qualified Auxiliary Dresser&

996

Number of qualified Auxiliary Nurses

380

150

35

56

Number of qualified Drivers Courses of Instruction; Basic First aid

Basic Auxiliary Dressers

Auxiliary Dressers Ward Course Auxiliary Nurses Hospital Training Ward Refresher Course

Telephonists/Message writing

Driving

Storekeeping

V. TRAINING PROGRAMME

DOCTORS

:

لون الله

111

504

75

32 46

321. Undergraduate training is carried out at the University of Hong Kong which confers the degrees of M.B., B.S.. recognized by the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom. At the present between 35 and 50 students graduate each year from the Faculty of Medicine, but the University, in consultation with the Medical and Health Department, has planned to expand facilities to enable an annual output of eighty doctors,

322. Post-graduate training for higher qualifications is under the supervision of the Panel on Post-Graduate Medical Education which consists of University and Government members. A number of clinical posts in the major hospitals are recognized for post-graduate training by the majority of the examining bodies in the United Kingdom. In most specialist fields, the Department is now assured of an adequate supply of doctors holding higher qualifications who will be needed for the staffing of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Certain specialities such as anaesthetics and psychiatry do not as yet attract a sufficient number of recently-qualified doctors to enable a satisfactory training programme to develop.

323. For the third year in succession, the Part I examinations for the Diplomas in Medical Radiology in Diagnosis and Therapy were held in the Colony and the assistance of the Examining Board in England in according this facility is gratefully acknowledged.

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