69. The Tung Wah Group of Hospitals also include in-patient and out-patient facilities for the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis.
70. The Family Welfare Association provides assistance to the needy, among whom are included a number of tuberculosis sufferers. Close liaison is maintained with the Government tuberculosis almoner.
71. Certain Government departments, principally the Social Welfare Office, participate indirectly, by providing assistance to the needy including the tuberculous. Closer liaison is being established between this Office and the Tuberculosis Service with the object of avoiding overlap and providing assistance where it is most needed.
72.
Private practitioners, private clinics and hospitals play a considerable part in the treatment of tuberculosis but the degree to which this is done is not known. A large new hospital of 540 beds has now been completed by the Hong Kong Anti- Tuberculosia Association. This hospital was financed by a Government grant and a long-term Government loan to operate a non-profit-making basis for the benefit of tuberculosis sufferers who can pay for treatment.
73. Control is based on treatment of known cases mainly on an ambulatory basis, examination and treatment of their close contacts, and a limited amount of Mass Miniature X-ray survey work. In addition B.C.G. vaccination of children is taken where possible, with special attention being given to new-born babies. It is not necessary at this stage to operate a case finding service nor is it considered that utilization of available beds for the Isolation of a few of the infectious cases is likely to make any substantial contribution to the problem as a whole in view of the fact that 2% of the population suffer from active pulmonary tuberculosis and the population at large can be regarded as contacts.
Government Tuberculosis Service Facilities.
74. This service, which was instituted in 1947 with one clinic and limited hospital beds, was increased within one year to the present facilities, none having been added since. Expan- sívo has been mainly by the increase in provision and efficiency of the out-patient service.
**
75. The staff employed full time in the service is as follows:
Tuberculosis Specialist Medical Officera { Clinic
Nurses
Hospital
--,-,
Almunera & Assistant Almoners Tuberculosin Workers
Clerka Ancillary
Vaccinatora
R.C.C.Clerk
Driver
Total
12
26
11
13
2
81
76. This does not include X-ray staff, laboratory staff or hospital staff, all of whom provide assistance to the Tuberculosis Service but work under their respective sub-department heads. 77. The service operates as a single integrated unit under the immediate control of the Tuberculosis Specialist. The out- patient staff operate from two large full time central clinics each holding two evening sessions per week for employed persons. This staff also operates eight branch clinics, each holding one half day session per week and in addition is responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis sufferers in Stanley Prison as well as the supervision and treatment of 42 tuber- culosis cases in St. John Hospital, Cheung Chau. The three in-patient medical officers, who are responsible for a total of 278 beds, work under the administrative control of the Medical Superintendents of Queen Mary and Lai Chi Kok hospitals but are responsible to the Tuberculosis Specialist in regard to clinical work.
78. The part time services of a thoracic surgeon are available once a week in the clinic as well as in the hospitals. The Con- sulting Orthopaedic Surgeon to the Government conducts a clinic once a week for the diagnosis and treatment of orthopaedic tuberculosis.
79.
All diagnosis and treatment in the clinics is carried out free of charge. Treatment in hospital in the general wards is normally free of charge also but occasionally a maintenance charge up to the maximum of HK$1.50 per day may be made if the financial circumstances of the patient so dictate.
23
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.