Research was continued on the epidemiology of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, The results of studies on the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of 30 MeV electrons at varying tissue depths were published.
Anaesthesia
The anaesthetic service mans 245 operating sessions a week and 5 operating theatres on a 24-hour basis for emergencies. A total of 46,727 cases were put under anaesthesia in various hospitals in 1974. Obstetric analgesia is being studied in Tsan Yuk and Queen Mary Hospitals.
Dental Service
The dental service operates 33 clinics, including a mobile dental unit. A total of 267,012 attendances was recorded, in which the function of 101,008 teeth was restored and 65,077 teeth were extracted. In terms of persons 55,695 vere rendered dentally fit.
Government Laboratory
The total number of items examined in 1974 constituted an all- time record of 69,255, an increase of 4,669 over the previous year. In the general division for the examination of Food, liquors and pharmaceuticals, the workload increased by 11.4%. There was an increase of 51.5% in the number of items examined for the Fire Services Department. Upsurge in crime had also brought an exceptionally busy year for staff of the forensic science division. The construction of the new 8,000 sq. ft. forensic laboratory in Kowloon is now complete.
Nursing
VII.
OTHER SERVICES
The total mumber of staff in the mursing and allied grades is 5,223 who undertake duties throughout Hong Kong in all the government hospitals and clinics as well as in the health services. There are five grades in the medical division and three grades in the health division.
The nursing service has benefited by the return of mursing personnel who have successfully completed overasas courses of instruction in mursing education, orthopaedic and spinal injuries mursing, neurological mursing, central surgical supplies technique, dietetics and intensive care.
Pharmaceuticals
There are 25 pharmacists and 207 dispensers of all grades who man all the goverment hospitals and clinics. The Pharmaceutical Manufactory in North Point, after renovation, had resumed production. Plans are in hand to move the Kovloon Medical Store to a temporary structure in the Kowloon Hospital compound to make way for the Polytechnic development.
43 prosecutions were instituted under the Dangerous Drugs, Poisons and Antibiotics Ordinances. Examinations for the registration of pharmacists were held in June and December, only 9 out of 49 candidates Passed,
Medical Social Work
Reorganisation of the medical social service was effected this year with the creation of the post of Principal Medical Social Worker to be in overall charge of the four divisions of the service. The rapid expansion of the medical and health services and the increasing emphasis on rehabilitation continued to make heavy demands on the medical social service. A total staff of 96 is working in the various hospitals and clinics.
Physiotherapy
The demand for physiotherapy contimed to increase once again Particularly for the severely handicapped and those requiring intensive
On average fifty-one physiotherapists vere on duty in any given
care. day.
A
The unit at Kowloon Hospital continued its programme of expansion for the convalescent patients thus increasing the bed turnover. physiotherapist who had specialised in the treatment of hemiplegias has been training others through monthly attachments.
Occupational Therapy
There are altogether eleven units in the service which cover both inpatients and outpatients. There was an increased demand for services in government hospitals as well as outpatient centres.
This sub-department achieved almost 50% localisation in the grade of occupational therapists. Two more scholarship graduates will be returning shortly.
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