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Psychiatric Social Work.

266. The Assistant Almoner at the Mental Hospital resigned during the year and this was a serious loss as, up to the end of the year, it was not possible to appoint a replacement with experience in this special work.

Tuberculosis Work.

267. Apart from the administration of the departmental vote for the after-care of tuberculosis patients to which refer- ence has already been made, the tuberculosis almoner carried out much useful work. The Children's Home for contacts which was operated by a Mission Organization in the New Territories, was closed down in June and this threw additional work on the tuberculosis almoner. During the year, 101 families received financial assistance and a sum of $68,930.00 was disbursed. In addition, 4 tons of powdered milk were purchased and dis- tributed to children and patients receiving out-patient treatment.

Occupational Therapy.

268. There was still no trained occupational therapist in the Medical Department but, as in the past, the Physiotherapists and the Principal Almoner, assisted by the members of the Occupa- tional Therapy Fund Committee, did what they could to provide occupational therapy for long term cases. Various voluntary workers, including members of the local branch of the British Red Cross Society undertook instruction in knitting, sewing, etc., in various government hospitals. In addition, two rattan instructors continued to teach patients at the Mental Hospital and the Lai Chi Kok Hospital.

Radiological

269. The staff of this sub-department consisted of the Senior Radiologist, one radiologist, eleven radiographers and sixteen radiographic assistants. In addition, the Senior Radiologist was administratively responsible for the staff of physiotherapists, numbering 7. The work of the sub-department showed a further increase and its burden was made the heavier in the earlier part of the year by the shortage of staff, owing to resigna- tions and leave. Nevertheless, in spite of the burden of X-ray

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work, considerable attention was paid to teaching of govern- ment radiographic staff and, to a lesser extent, of staff of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and the Nethergole Hospital. Assistance in this regard was also given to the Ruttonjee Sana- torium and to the Army. The work of the sub-department falls into the following sections:---

270. Radio-Diagnostic-The increase in the volume of this type of work was not reflected in the total number of investiga- tions carried out. This was actually some 10% less than in the previous year but the increased number of large film investiga- tions and major and special investigations did, in fact, mean an increase in work. The total number of investigations carried out was 141,694, as compared with 157,552 in the previous year.

271. Rodio-Therapeutic-The total number of cases treated was 313, as compared with 259 in 1951. Of these, 212 were treated by deep X-rays, 73 by superficial X-rays and 28 by radio- cobalt or radium.

272. In December a 24.9 Curie Radio-Cobalt Telecurie Unit arrived in the Colony. It was being installed in the Queen Mary Hospital at the end of the year and it will be ready for routine use early in 1953.

273. Physiotherapeutic-In this section, too, there was a considerable increase in the amount of work carried out and demands were constantly greater than available resources. A total of 5,354 persons were dealt with as compared with 5,486 in 1951. Of these, 953 were in-patients and 4,401 out-patients and the number of treatments totalled 47,176.

Stewards

(including Transport and Ambulance services)

274. This sub-department is under the care of the Chief Steward who was assisted by two stewards and four steward's assistanta. Their responsibilities included the care and dis- tribution of hospital stores other than pharmaceuticals, the supervision of menial staff, the operation of departmental transport and the general ambulance service.

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