Polyclinic and Violet Peel Polyclinic. The medical social work in the ophthalmic service was re-organized and all new cases are now seen by the medical social worker in the Yau Ma Tei Ophthalmic Clinic.
122. The medical social service of the Kowloon Division based at Queen Elizabeth Hospital covers medical social work in the Govern- ment hospitals and other medical institutions on Kowloon side. Close liaison was maintained with other Government departments and voluntary agencies in regard to the various aspects of rehabilitation, such as job placement, vocational training, housing and education of the physically disabled. The continuing co-operation and assistance given by them contributed much help to the patients.
123. The medical social workers in the Chest and Special Skin Division continued to see patients on a referral and selection system. Medical social workers of this Division work at all main chest clinics and special skin clinics. In addition to services rendered to out- patients, this Division also provides medical social service to tuber- culosis patients treated al such hospitals as Grantham Hospital, Ruttonjec Sanatorium, Wong Tai Sin Infirmary, Sandy Bay Convalescent Hospital and other medical institutions. In the Special Skin Service medical social workers maintained close liaison with the Hay Ling Chau Leprosarium. There are now less difficulties with such rehabilita- tion problems as the housing of leprosy patients, the employment of cured persons and their integration into the community.
124. In the Mental Health Service the scope of medical work both at Castle Peak Hospital and the out-patient psychiatric centres widened considerably due to an increase in the number of hospital patients and out-patient attendances. There is also increasing aware- ness of the availability of treatment facilities and social assistance for the mentally ill.
125. In-service training for new recruits was provided as before. Full use is also made of lectures given by specialists in various related fields, as well as extra-mural courses designed for social workers. Medical Social Workers continued to give lectures to other students in training mainly in nursing, medicine, physiotherapy. health visitors service, social work and trainees in the social welfare field. In education for social work the Medical Social Service continued to offer field training placements and the service of Medical Social Workers as supervisors for the practical training of university students
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of the two universities, and for the post-graduate social study diploma students of the University of Hong Kong.
PHYSIOTHERAPY (Table 65)
126. Demand for physiotherapy services continues to rise and there was increasing concentration on education and training of the handicapped in re-adapting themselves to day-to-day activities. The physiotherapy unit at Queen Mary Hospital has continued to treat those patients transferred to the Sandy Bay Convalescent Hospital, and the Wan Chai Polyclinic now supplies a number of staff for Tang Shiu Kin Hospital,
127. Since July 1970 a part time service has been supplied to give further physiotherapy to physically handicapped trainees at the World Rehabilitation Fund Day Centre in Kwun Tong. All other services have been maintained and in March 1971 the Tang Shiu Kin Physiotherapy Unit in the David Trench Rehabilitation Centre at Sai Ying Pun was opened to patients. This will provide a much needed service for patients in the Western half of Hong Kong Island and for the first time the service of hydrotherapy treatment has been made available on this side of the Island.
128. An increasing interest in sport for the handicapped resulted in the first annual sports meeting for the physically handicapped in August 1970, when some 96 Hong Kong 'athletes' and 14 from New Zealand competed in 9 different events. Training and planning for the last annual sports meeting was carried out by the physiotherapists and planning for the next meeting is already in progress. Intermediate matches and competitions are held on a regular basis especially at Kowloon Rehabilitation Centre. While these events are mainly for permanent wheelchair victims, amputees and cerebral palsy patients and others are also encouraged to improve their physical fitness.
129. The Physiotherapy Training School had 41 students under training at the end of the year under review, the number including 7 for non-Government institutions. An additional 3rd classroom for the training of student physiotherapists was added to the School during the year.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY (Table 66)
130. The demand for occupational therapy services has continued. With the appointment of two officers and the return form overseas of
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