154. On 16th August, the psychiatric occupational therapy unit was opened in the New Kowloon Hospital west wing ward block, followed on October 26 by the opening of the new physical unit in the David Trench Rehabilitation Centre.
155. There was an increased demand for occupational therapy service at the Kowloon Rehabilitation Centre following the opening of the new Kowloon Hospital West Wing and a more regular attendance of cerebral palsy children. Otherwise, treatment in 1971 followed the same pattern as in previous years, with the same aim in view-to assist paticots to return to their previous employment, or to an alternative form of livelihood.
156. The occupational therapy units in the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth hospitals continued with the treatment of in-patients. In the Queen Elizabeth, the attendance of out-patients, particularly cerebral palsy children, reached an all-time high. The Lai Chi Kok Hospital occupational therapy unit was re-opened on 13th April, 1971, and continued as a fully functional treatment unit throughout the year. The Wan Chai Polyclinic also continued to function to the maximum, în spite of its physical limitation and location, which together prevented further expansion of the service offered.
157. The Medical and Health Department continued to provide a diverse programme of progressive treatment in the Castle Peak Hospital covering work, recreation and group-social activities. The Hong Kong Psychiatric Centre and the Yau Ma Tei Mental Health Centre continued to provide a treatment programme for an attendance of out-patients, including selected patients from the Castle Peak Hospital, for whom a short follow-up period was necessary, and those receiving other forms of therapy referred for observation prior to assessment for future employment.
PROSTHETIC-OR:F][OTIC SERVICE (Table 69)
158. The prosthetic-orthotic service provides modern artificial limbs and orthopaedic appliances for members of the public and for in-patients of government hospitals. The demand for prosthetic-orthotic service continued to rise as a result of increased industrial and traffic accidents. Though the number of new poliomyelitis patients requiring orthopaedic appliances decreased, the old poliomyelitis patients were growing up
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during the year, and so the demand for medium and large sizes of long leg-braces with knee-hinges increased.
159. To ensure that artificial limbs available in Hong Kong were the best possible, and that the method of fabrication and limb fitting kept abreast of developments, one prosthetist was sent abroad in July 1971 to take a post-graduate prosthetic course and to make an up-to-date general survey of prosthetics and orthotics in England, Denmark, and West Germany, and to work in some of the famous research and development centres in those countries.
160. Work study in the production of artificial limbs continued. The main research and development undertaken during the year was: (1) modification to above-elbow prosthesis, (2) improved fabrication of the forearm section for all upper-extremity prosthesis, and (3) a new design of the SACH foot for all lower extremity prosthesis.
161. In-service training in prosthetics and orthotics continued for government student prosthetists. During the year, four student prosthe- tists successfully completed a training course of three years in pros- thetics-orthotics, passing the prescribed examinations. Their ultimate qualification was recognized by the appropriate professional body in the United Kingdom.
MEDICAL EXAMINATION BOARD
(Tables 70-71)}
162. This section carries out medical examinations of new entrants to the civil service and certain units of the Essential Services Corps. The number of persons classified as unfit, on account of tuberculosis, decreased considerably in 1971 when compared with the previous year. Tuberculosis remained the primary reason for non-acceptance of appli- cants on medical grounds, being responsible for seven out of the 10 classifications as 'unfit' in each 1,000 examinations. In May 1971, the Medical Examination Board was removed to new premises in the Canton Road government offices.
HOSPITAL MAINTENANCE AND SUPPLY
163. The development of services provided in medical institutions operated by the Medical and Health Department makes the administra- tion and supply of the hospital service increasingly complex, and there was little doubt during the year that this trend would persist.
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