138. All modern treatment in psychiatry was administered. Reli- ance continued to be placed on drug treatment and social measures, with the emphasis on inter-disciplinary, participatory-democratic team- work, co-ordinating the functions and resources of social workers, nurses, occupational therapists, doctors and others in therapy. There was an increasing tendency to treat patients in psychiatric cul-patients' centres and day hospitals rather than to admit them to Castle Peak.
139. Continued efforts were made to rehabilitate the long-stay and severely mentally disabled patients, the aim being to discharge them when they were fit to earn a living. Two wards were especially set up for this purpose. The usual therapeutic measures, including occupa. tional therapy, group therapy and re-education, were intensively used, but emphasis was placed on training in activities having a direct bearing on their work after discharge. By these means, a number of patients were able to find employment while still in hospital. They later left the bospital for full-time employment.
140. A variety of social and recreational activities was organized for the patients, and they were always kept informed. In addition, they had their own social club. Every ward has a televison set,
141. Planning for the second mental hospital at Lai Chi Kok within the Princess Margaret Hospital complex was in an advance stage, and the date of completion was set for 1976-77.
Psychiatric Centres
142. The Yau Ma Tei Psychiatric Centre provides treatment for both out and day-patients, including follow-up cases from the Castle Peak Hospital. Its facilities include a child psychiatric unit. The day hospital is useful for the treatment of psychoneurotics and disturbed adolescents and children. On the Island, the Hong Kong Psychiatric Centre continued to look after out-and day-patients, follow-up cases from the Castle Peak Hospital, and forensic cases. In addition to these centres, psychiatric services were provided for the Siu Lam Hospital for the mentally subnormal. the Prisons Department Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre, the Tai Lam Centre for Women, and the Social Welfare Department's Aberdeen Rehabilitation Centre.
Kowloon Hospital Psychiatric Unit
143. This unit, located in the west wing of the Kowloon Hospital, provides comprehensive psychiatric services in a general hospital setting. Because of a shortage of staff, only the out-patients" section,
36
the day hospital, and two-thirds of the in-patients' section, were operational. All types of patients, except those with strong suicidal and aggressive tendencies, were admitted. During their stay, they were subjected to an intensive treatment programme. Average length of stay was two weeks.
Voluntary Mental Health Organizations
144. The New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, with the close co-operation of the mental health service, operates the New Life Rehabilitation Farm adjacent to the Castle Peak Bospital for the bene- fit of patients requiring a period of orientation before returning to full social and economic activity in the community. The Association also owns two balf-way houses for both men and women, and a sheltered workshop for selected discharged patients from the Castle Peak Hospital. The Mental Health Association continued to provide the useful function of bridging the gap between the service and the com- munity in 1972. The Irene House, a half-way hostel run by the Association for short-stay discharged patients from the Castle Peak Hospital, could accommodate 32 patients at a time.
Drug Addiction
145. The department maintained close liaison during the year with the Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN), other voluntary agencies, and govemment departments connected with this work. Representatives from this department served as members on various sub-committees of the Action Committee Against Narcotics and par- ticipated in activities, particularly in relation to the treatment and re- habilitation of drug addicts, and research and health education in the dangers of drug addiction.
146. A notable achievement of the department during 1972 was the setting up, on 1st December, of the Pilot Methadone Study Centre in Eastern Street, Sai Ying Pun, in the old premises of the former Mental Hospital. The Centre aims at finding out if local addicts will take to methadone maintenance instead of heroin, or opium, and if not, why not. The Government made available more than $2 million for a study to last three years, covering an estimated $50 addicts. who are being treated free, and who are volunteers.
147. Ten beds were made available. The procedure lays down that a patient should be treated for withdrawal symptoms for about len days, depending on the individual. As soon as withdrawal signs occur,
37
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.