but essential after-care, particularly for post-operative orthopaedic patients, is increasingly prescribed. New equipment during the year included a bed loom for use in the orthopaedic wards and a new treadle free-saw.
395. The work at Lai Chi Kok Hospital is of considerable variety, being amongst tuberculosis patients and the convalescent patients from Kowloon Hospital. Weekly outpatient treatment and job-training ses- sions for men with amputated limbs were continued with the object of giving these patients confidence and skill in the use of their newly- fitted prostheses. The majority were arm amputees eager to resume employment.
396. A new departure during the year was the commencement of an assessment project at the Wan Chai Polyclinic, in conjunction with the Physiotherapy Department, to train the physically-handicapped in normal day-to-day activities. This scheme has been of particular value in assisting disabled bousewives to care for their families. In November. 1963, weekly visits were commenced to the tuberculosis patients in St. John Hospital, Cheung Chau,
397. The Seventh Annual Exhibition and Sale of Work was held in the City Hall in October, 1963, and was officially opened by Lady BLACK, the wife of His Excellency the Governor. The exhibition showed, for two full days, a wide range of handicrafts by patients of all sections of the Occupational Therapy Service, and the sale of finished articles realized $10,144.60. In addition, other sales of products during the year realized a further $16,025,
ORTHOPAEDIC AND PROSTHETIC APPLIANCES
398. This unit is staffed by an Orthopaedic Appliance Advisor, six student assistant technicians and seven artisans. The unit. previously housed temporarily at the Harcourt Health Centre, moved to new premises in the Jockey Club Kowloon Rehabilitation Centre in August, 1963, This well-equipped and well-designed centre contains all workshops necessary for the production of plastic, metal, leather and wooden parts for such appliances.
399. The training of the student technicians has proceeded satisfac- torily, and the Institute of British Surgical Technicians in London have now agreed to recognize this training for entry to its examinations.
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400. The amount and variety of work undertaken have increased considerably; 1,100 surgical appliances, totalling $104,881 in value, were produced compared with 577 in the previous year. The output is, however, still insufficient to meet the demand and on 31st March, 1964, there were 369 prescriptions outstanding. Fees recovered against the cost of these appliances were $52,926 compared to $45,139 in 1962.
401. Apart from routine work at Government hospitals, out-patient departments and physiotherapy clinics. visits were made on request to the Sandy Bay Convalescent Home, the British Red Cross Crippled Children's Home at Kwun Tong and Hei Ling Chau Leprosarium. Co-operation with the Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation, the Lutheran World Service and the Social Welfare Department was successfully con- tinued throughout the year.
402. Experimental procedures during the year covered a wide variety of disabilities. These included a device for the taking of weight-bearing casts for below-knee amputation stumps, a carbon-transfer process for the fitting of below-knee sockets, the production of spinal supports of a composite laminate producing a light and hygienic appliance and a procedure for producing grip impressions of deformed hands.
MEDICAL EXAMINATION BOARD
403. This Board performs the medical examination of all new en- trants to Government employment and to units of the Essential Service Corps. Members of the Civil Service prior to transfer outside Hong Kong are also medically examined by the Board. In addition, work is carried out, on request, for countries which require prospective immigrants to submit a certificate of physical fitness. Each examination involves a comprehensive physical check, certain routine laboratory investigations, an X-ray of the chest and any other special investigations which may be considered necessary. Specialist advice is available from the Govern- ment clinical units. The work of the year is summarized at Table 52.
TABLE $2
WORK OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINATION BOARD 1962–63
Total
Government
Auxiliary
Appointments
Defence Unirs
Miscellaneous
1983 1963
1962 1963 1952 1963
1962 1963
New examinations... Re-examinations
6,725
9,002
1,984 1.079 106
93
8,81.5 12.174
3,773
3.459
3,081 2,364
1
6,855 5,823
Annual total
10,498 12,461
5,065 5,443 107
93 15,670 17,997
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