patients and has occupational workshops and facilities for physio- therapy and for the manufacture of prostheses. It is designed to assist in the quick return to employment of those who have been injured, particularly in industrial accidents.
NAM LONG HOSPITAL
168. This hospital, maintained by the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society, is situated at Brick Hill overlooking Aberdeen harbour. With accommodation for 120 beds it takes in cancer patients, convalescing from major surgery or from radiotherapy and also those with advanced disease. Chemotherapy is also given to patients. Cases are referred by Government or private hospitals or by medical practitioners, and it is the policy of the hospital to admit only such cases. All poor patients receive free treatment but for those who are able to pay a small fee is charged. Patients are provided with medical social service. During the year planning was underway to expand the capacity of the hospital by an addition of 60 beds to a complement of 180 beds.
HONG KONG RUDDHIST HOSPITAL
169. This hospital, situated at Lo Fu Ngam, Kowloon, was opened in October 1970. li has a capacity for 350 beds, and during its first stage of operation the hospital opened 178. The capital cost of this hospital was met by the Hong Kong Buddhist Association with Government granting the hospital site at nil premium. The hospital was assisted by Government in respect of its recurrent cost to the amount of $250,026 during the year.
VI. DEVELOPMENT
(Table 74)
PORWARD PLANNING
170. Reference has been made previously in this report to the un- paralled hospital development of the past 16 years. However, the population has also been increasing very rapidly and there is consider- able pressure on most categories of hospital beds, particularly those for acute and chronic general and mental patients. The White Paper on Development of Medical Services in Hong Kong, which was tabled in the Legislative Council in February 1964, outlined the medical
46
problems of the Colony and made suggestions to remedy deficiencies in order to produce, in the face of a rapidly increasing population, a reasonably satisfactory standard of medical facilities. Developments have to take into account the ability of the community to afford these facilities either by direct payment or by indirect payment by means of taxation. The Working Party which prepared the White Paper was re-constituted by His Excellency the Governor as the Medical Develop ment Plan Standing Committee. The Director of Medical and Health Services is its Chairman and the Committee comprises two nominated members and representatives of the Medical and Health Department, of the Finance and Social Services Branches of the Colonial Secretariat. and, when necessary, of the Public Works Department. The Committee has held 51 meetings since its inception, in order to keep the recom- mendations made in the White Paper under continuous review and to report its conclusions on all major matters to Government. The Committee's activities fall into five main categories, namely: develop- ment of medical institutions; staffing of such institutions; subventions to Government-assisted institutions; fees and charges; and improved utilization of existing medical facilities.
171. The principal matters with which the Committee were occupied were: the 350-bed United Christian Hospital at Kwun Tong: the 100-bed Yan Chai Hospital at Tsuen Wan; the Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital in Kowloon; the working party on medical subven- tions; and the subventions paid to Government-assisted institutions. 172. Amongst new matters considered by the Committee were: Fanling Hospital, Sha Tau Kok Clinic and the Specialist Clinic on Hong Kong Island East; a permanent midwives training school and an extension to Block B of Queen Elizabeth Hospital; medical facilities at Kwun Tong: and the utilization of vacant beds in sub- vented hospitals.
COMPLETED PROJECTS
173. The year 1970-71 saw the completion of a number of major additions to the Colony's medical and health services. Although most of these have been mentioned elsewhere in this report, it is appropriate to summarize them in this chapter.
174. Government projects completed during the year were the Kowloon Hospital West Wing, the Organ Transplant Unit and the new maternity ward at Queen Mary Hospital, the additional third-class
47
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.