X1000306-1979-80_Part01 — Page 10

10

11

Medical Social 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. There are six divisions : Hong Kong, Kowloon, New Territories, mental health, chest and special skin, narcotics and drug administration. The number of cases handled was 71,309. Services rendered included financial assistance, compassionate rehousing, counselling, placement in institutions and job-placement. Contemporary social work skills and techniques, such as group work, out-reaching, conjoint treatment therapies, are getting more emphasis.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy service is available in 15 hospitals and clinics. In 1979, 134,869 patients received 1,202,214 treatments, an increase of 11.7% in terms of patients and 0.3% in terms of treatments. In 1979, the first group of Hong Kong Polytechnic students commenced their clinical training in the government physiotherapy units.

Occupational Therapy

There were altogether 14 units in the service which has a staff of 116.

In 1979, 13,679 patients were given a total of 721,780 treatments, representing increases of 10% in terms of patients and 6.2% in terms of treatments in comparison with 1978.

Prosthetic-Orthotics

Increases in the number of industrial and traffic accidents have added to the rising demand on the Prosthetic-Orthotic Service,

In 1979, 7,925 patients were treated with a total attendance of 17,368.

Medical Staff

IX.

TRAINING PROGRAMMES

(Tables 76 - 78)

Higher professional examinations were held in Hong Kong in 1979 by the Royal College of Physicians, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and the Royal Australasian College of Radiologists.

Besides full-pay study leave, 4 government doctors were enabled by various financial schemes to acquire higher qualifications in their respective fields overseas during the year 1979.

Dental Staff

As training in dentistry will be available locally with the Dental School at Hong Kong University commencing its first intake of students in 1980, the overseas dental training scholarship scheme has been phased out.

Nursing Staff

(1) Basic Training

661 general and 176 psychiatric student nurses are undergoing the 3-year training course leading to registration with the Nursing Board of Hong Kong. 204 general and 85 psychiatric pupil nurses are undergoing the 2-year training course leading to enrollment with the Nursing Board of Hong Kong.

(2) Post Basic Training

Narcotics and Drugs

The department provides treatment for narcotic drug abusers either by methadone maintenance or detoxification.

The two methadone programmes of detoxification and maintenance were amalgamated in August 1979. All the 20 Treatment Centres were renamed as Methadone Clinics. There has also been an extension of working hours. The daily average of attendance since amalgamation was 7,580.

VIX.

a)

Midwifery Course

103 registered nurses are undergoing 1-year post basic training in midwifery leading to registration with the Midwives Board of Hong Kong,

b)

Health Nursing Course

c)

19 registered nurses participated in a 9-month course and 20 enrolled nurses underwent a 6-month course in health nursing.

Community Nursing Course

17 registered nurses are participating in a 4-month course and 17 enrolled nurses have completed their training course in community nursing.

/a).