Site formation work on the long awaited 1 600 bed Eastern District Hospital on Hong Kong Island has started. The hospital will provide a comprehensive range of specialist treatment facilities, including round the clock accident and emergency service and a nurse training school when it is completed by 1991/92.
Work on Queen Mary Hospital Extension is continued steadily and in May the work on the second of a three stage extension programme has started.
Other projects in the pipeline include further extension to the Caritas Medical Centre, United Christian Hospital, Yan chai Hospital, Pok Di Hospital, Duchess of Kent Hospital, and Tung Wah Eastern Hospital. The Government has also approved funds for extensive redevelopment works to turn the Ruttonjee Sanatorium in Wan Chai from an institution for chest and tuberculosis patienta into a general hospital. The 280 bed sanatorium will be upgraded into a 452 bed hospital.
Training schools for registered psychiatric nurses are at Kwai Chung Hospital and Castle Peak Hospital, with an average annual training capacity of 120 and 40 respectively. New schools for registered psychiatric nurses are being planned in United Christian Hospital and Shau Kei Wan Hospital, with an intake capacity of 30 and 135 students, scheduled for 1988 and 1991 respectively. Psychiatric enrolled nurses are trained at Castle Peak Hospital which has an average annual training capacity of about 60 nurses a year, to be further increased to 00 in 1987.
There is increasing awareness on the need for continuing training and education for nurses. The post-basic school of the Nursing Unit continues to provide a regular post registration courses in midwifery, health nursing, community health nursing. In-service training courses are also organised where appropriate in intensive-care, stoma-care, renal nursing, oncology and operating theatre.
The Institute of Medical and Health Care at the Hong Kong Polytechnic provide training for para-medical and para-dental staff including radiographers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, medical laboratory technicians and dental technicians. in-service training courses are also available for students for prosthetists, dispensers, radiographers
(therapeutics), mould laboratory technicians and dental therapist.
VIII Training
Graduates of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong are awarded Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degrees recognised by the General Medical Council of Great Britain. Both the Government and the university maintain a comprehensive post-graduate training programme. Opportunities are available for local doctors to sit for higher professional examinations and attend professional conferences, seminars and workshops. During the year, 135 doctors were sent overseas under Government sponsorship or other scholarships to receive further training.
The University of Hong Kong produces about 150 doctors a year, whereas the Chinese University increases the annual intake of medical students to 140 w.e.E. 1986 when it has produced its first graduates.
Nurses are the major front-line workers in the provision of health care service, the establishment has grown to about 10 200 in early 1986. Basic training for general registered nurses is available at Government, Government-assisted and private hospitals. In early 1986, eight such training schools were in operation with an average annual training capacity of about 1 070 nurses a year. A further three general registered nurse training schools providing about 330 additional training posts are planned for in the coming decade. Over the same period, the average annual training capacity for general enrolled nurses will increase from 560 to 670.
Training in dentistry is available in the Prince Philip Dental Hospital which produced the second batch of 70 graduates in January 1986. The Tang Shiu Kin Dental Therapists Training School also offers a 3-year training programme for Student Dental Therapists.
IX
Acknowledgement
I wish to pay tribute to all the staff who have contributed to the efficient and effective functioning of the Department in the year under review. Though there have been pressures and difficulties, all performed their duties with devotion and dedication. I am most grateful for their unfailing support.
The Department acknowledges with thanks the assistance and co- operation given by other Government departments, voluntary agencies, the press, the radio and television networks.
Many public spirited persons have devoted their time and energy to serve on statutory boards, advisory committees, working parties and in voluntary agencies dealing with the many aspects of medical and health services in Hong Kong. Their contributions are much appreciated.
Finally, I would like to record my appreciation for the contributions of private individuals as well as local and overseas organisations who have assisted the Department in providing facilities for those in need of medical care. It is hoped that they will continue to contribute to the Medical Development Programme in the challenging years ahead, With such sound support, I am confident that the Department will continue to provide a good service.
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(K L THÔNG
Director of Medical & Health Services
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