X1000306-1965-66_Part01 — Page 25

Medical and Health Departmental Reports 醫務衛生署年報 All

for post-graduate training and 2 others participated in the Cleveland International Programme in the United States. In staff training locally, full use has been made of Extra Mural Courses, several of which have been designed especially for social workers and the cost was met by Government, Lectures were given by the Medical Social Workers in the courses of training of ourses, physiotherapists, health visitors and medical students. In addition all possible assistance was given to the two universities in the training of university social work students.

123. In the Tuberculosis Service, the development by Health Visitors of the work concerned with the public bealth and preventive aspects of this disease has enabled the Medical Social Workers in this service to concentrate more on the purely social work angles. Plans are being made for greater concentration on problems of hospitalization and return to the community.

124. Work at the Kowloon Jockey Club Rehabilitation Centre has been developed during the year with the placement of two full-time Medical Social Workers at the Centre. Much of their time is spent with child patients and their parents, who need encouragement to persevere with treatment, and help and guidance in accepting permanent dis- ability. A further duty of the Medical Social Worker is to make full use, as may be appropriate in each individual case, of the considerable provision which now exists for the handicapped child in club activities, temporary hostel care and schooling.

125. Medical Social Workers in the hospitals bave continued to work with patients and families throughout hospitalization towards the ultimate goal of discharge back into the community. Severe residual disabilities, particularly in such conditions as paraplegia and hemiplegia, pose serious problems. In Queen Elizabeth Hospital there was no significant change in the method of work during the year, while in Queen Mary Hospital staffing was more adequate numerically during 1965 than in 1964. The work in Kowloon Hospital resembled that in the other general hospitals, but with a greater proportion of problems relating to destitute or seriously handicapped patients for whom dis- charge plans must be made. Following a minor outbreak of poliomye- litis in Tsuen Wan, the question of sending the affected children to attend the Kowloon Physiotherapy Centre for treatment had posed a problem which led to the opening of a temporary treatment centre in Tsuen Wan.

34

126. In the Mental Health Service the demands for fully trained Psychiatric Social Workers and the scope of work at Castle Peak Hospital remain great. The development of rehabilitation measures for patients of long standing adds to the demands.

127. In the leprosy service co-operation with the Hay Ling Chau Leprosarium was maintained, and arrangements for resettling selected cases have been improved, decisions being taken by a Committee on which a Medical Social Worker is a member. In the fields of venereal diseases and dermatology, long interviews with patients were needed to release tensions and uncover hidden anxieties which play so important a part in some dermatological conditions. In other specialist sections such as ophthalmology, the Medical Social Workers worked on the referral system, and constantly pruned their activities in order to obtain the best possible results. At Tsan Yuk Hospital 73 babies were placed by the Medical Social Worker in various nurseries for a 6-week period after receiving B.C.G. while the mothers were treated for tuberculosis. A fuller investigation into post-partum sterilization, particularly of young mothers, was undertaken by the Tsan Yuk Hospital Medical Social Worker.

PHYSIOTHERAPY

(Scc table 63)

128. No new units were opened during the year, but the Kowloon Jockey Club Rehabilitation Centre was again brought into full activity by the re-opening of the hydrotherapy pool. Demand for physiotherapy services continued to rise, and there is increasing concentration on education and training of the handicapped in re-adapting themselves to day-to-day activities.

129. Five students graduated from the Physiotherapy Training School in August 1965. Training at the school was recognized by the United Kingdom which is very satisfying after four years work. Even though wastage from the course has been high, it was decided to continue to run the training school, and 11 new students have been recruited.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

(Sec table 64)

130. Owing to the pressure on the acute hospitals and to the result- ing short patient-stay, the main energies of the Occupational Therapy sub-department are concentrated on the hospitals for long-term patients,

35

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.