X1000306-1975-76_Part01 — Page 8

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District Midwifery

14.9 per cent of births were delivered at government maternity homes and 5.8 per cent in private maternity hones. These figures show a decrease compared with the previous year as more expectant mothers favour to attend hospitals for confinement.

School Medical Service

On 31st March 1976 the number of pupils participating vas 94,377 from 718 schools, compared with 79,191 from 686 schools on the same date in the previous year. Medical practitioners taking part in the schemes mumbered 204 compared with 201.

Registration of Clinics

There were 74 registered static clinics, two registered mobile clinics in the charge of registered medical practitioners, and 331 clinics registered with exemption making a total of 407 on 31st March 1976. 76 registered doctors took part in the low cost medical clinic scheme in Group B and 72 in Group A housing estates. In addition, 34 of 331 clinics registered with exemption also operated under the scheme.

Pathology

VI. SPECIAL SERVICES

During the year the total number of examinations undertaken by the Institute of Pathology exceeded that of the previous year by 338,044 indicating an increase of 14%; this excludes tests done for Queen Mary Hospital which is serviced by the Department of Pathology of the Hong Kong University.

The brains of 28 dogs were examined for Negri bodies for evidence of rabies but no positive findings were obtained.

In the blood banks 48,279 pints of blood were received, 47,305 pints of which were from the collecting centres of the Hong Kong Red Cross.

There was no laboratory confirmed case of poliomyelitis. survey also failed to detect any wild poliovirus.

A faecal This favourable result was in agreement with the serological study which revealed high immunity in children and a decline of the susceptible population.

In collaboration with the World Health Organization in the world- wide surveillance of cytomegalovirus infection, serologic studies revealed a high frequency (94%) of cytomegalovirus antibody in adults between 20 and 30 years of age. Cytomegalovirus infections usually occurred early in infancy.

22.3% of the cases of viral hepatitis were found positive for hepatitis B antigen. The incidence of hepatitis B antigen in clinical cases ranged from 15% in April to 28% in September.

Radiology and Oncology

In October the X-ray Department at Princess Margaret Hospital commenced partial operation in line with the phased opening of the hospital. In the same month installation was completed at Queen Mary Hospital of an ultrasonic diagnostic equipment, the first such machine to be commissioned in Hong Kong.

The 23 static X-ray centres and three mobile radiography units produced a total output of 784,339 examinations, a decrease of approximately 1.1% compared with the previous year. The Institute of Radiology and Oncology treated more than 90% of all patients requiring radiotherapy in Hong Kong and some patients from other areas.

The film badge service covered 50 government institutions with 408 radiation workers, 139 non-government hospitals and X-ray laboratories operated by medical practitioners with 455 radiation workers, and 20 industrial undertakings with 153 persons. 183 visits were made to non- government premises to inspect the working conditions of radiation vorkers and to ensure that the X-ray equipment posed no radiation hazards to the public.

carcinoma.

Anaesthesia

Research was continued on the epidemiology of nasopharyngeal

The anaesthetic service manned 292 operating sessions a week and 6 operating theatres on a 24-hour basis for emergencies. A total of 47,893 cases were put under anaesthesia in various hospitals in 1975. Pilot trials for obstetric analgesia continued in Tsan Yuk and Queen Mary Hospitals.

Dental Service

The dental service operated 33 clinics, including a mobile dental unit.

A total of 279,943 attendances was recorded, in which the function of 106.537 teeth was restored and 68,776 teeth were extracted. In terms of persons 57,968 vere rendered dentally fit.

Forensic Pathology

The Forensic Pathology Service advises and works in close association with the Royal Hong Kong Police Force on the medical aspects of criminology. This includes all homicidal deaths, deaths under suspicious circumstances, sexual offences, and other offences against the person. The professional staff dealt with a total of 1,294 examinations of victims and Suspects in criminal cases and 4,126 laboratory examinations in 1975.