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Physiotherapy

The physiotherapy services are required for the treatment of patients in acute and convalescent hospitals, in the maternity and obstetric warda, in the out-patient clinics and also in the medical rehabilitation centres. They are also involved in the rehabilitati on of the physically and mentally handicapped in geriatric and mentally ill hospitals and day centres and other special centres for children and adulta.

In 1980 a total of 144, 622 patients were treated and 1,120,550 attendances were recorded. With the increasing demand and rapid expansion of the service there is a general shortage of trained personnel. The first batch of 40 qualified physiotherapists trained in the Polytechnic will complete the course in July 1981, ready to serve the community. In spite of this, short term recruitment from overseas is still being carried out to meet the present shortfall. There is a need to recruit people with wider experience and training in special fields.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy is a fom of treatment for people who are physically and/or mentally ill and disabled. Under the instruction of qualified therapists, patients are involved in activities designed to restore wholly or partly their bodily functions so that they can be fitted into the working environment and become productive again.

In 1980, 14, 182 patients were treated with a total attendance of 698,999. A local 3-year training course for occupational therapists has been established at the Polytechnic and the firet batch of 40 qualified occupational therapists will be coming out by July 1981. Direct recruitment from overseas for experienced occupational therapist is still continuing but the reault has not been very encouraging.

Community Nursing Sarvica

The community nursing service has become part of the government medical and health service since 1979. Throughout the year there was a rapid expansion of this type of service in both the government and subvented sector. A joint consultative committee has been set up to assess the effectiveness of the service, to evaluate the progress of the scheme and to establish a uniformity of standards. At present there are 33 centres covering the whole of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and part of the New Territories. Special subcentres were set up in all the major hospitals to facilitate the provision of effective service. The service adma at extending care to patients discharged from hospitale after noute illness, and providing continuing care for the sick, the disabled and the elderly in their homes, thus relieving the much needed hospital beda.

During 1980/81, 8,743 patients were locked after by 130 community nurses and over 123,298 home visits were made.

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Pathology

VI Special Services

The Institute of Pathology runs clinical pathology and public health laboratory services for the government and a consultant Bervice for the government assisted sector. It also administers mortuarias and blood banka, In 1980 a total of 5.88 million examinations were undertakan by the Institute representing an increase of 3% over the previous year,

69,415 unita of blood were received by the blood banks. 6.13% of the donated blood were found to be positive for Hepatitis B surface antigon,

The institute also produces and issues sone type of vaccine to various hospitals and clinics including private practitione28. A total of 417,220 ml. of vaccine were produced locally last year.

Forensic Pathol. om:

The forensic pathology service with its newly established forensic laboratory works closely with the Royal Hong Kong Police Force an the medical aspect of criminology and other medico-legal work. The work of the service includes investigations in all homicides, suspected homicides, deaths while in custody, traffic 'hit and runt and other Coroner's caves. The professional staff dealt with a total of 537 autopsies, 899 clinical examinations and blood groupings and 2,009 laboratory examinations in 1980.

Radiology and Oncel ceY

The radio-diagnostic division provides x-ray diagnostic services to hospitals, polyclinics, clinics and mobile radiography stations. 877,369 examinations were performed in 1980, an increase of % over last year's figure.

The radiotherapy division is based in both queer. Eli zabeth Hospital and queen Mary Hospital and treats about 90% of patients requiring the service, The division in addition offers a chemotherapy service and also operates a Gancar Registry covering the whole of Hari Won A total of 5,057 patients were treated in the unit during the year.

The radiation physic division is responsible for the operation of the Radioisotope laboratories, the mould laboratories, the Radiological workshop, the Photographio Section and the Radiation Health Unit. The latter undertakes regular inspection visita to medical, commercial and industrial premises to monitor the working conditions of radiation workers and to ensure that radioactive equipments and irradiating apparatus are well maintained and the handling of radioactive substances are safely controlled in accordance with the Radiation Ordinance and Regulations,

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