ENG-1967 — Page 150

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HEALTH

by a large subvention from the government, provide a valuable contribution to the Colony's medical facilities and are gradually being modernized and expanded. To meet the growing need for subsidiary beds for long-term patients, the Tung Wah has under- taken two major projects. The first is the phased construction of a large infirmary at Wong Tai Sin. Phase one, providing some 350 beds, was completed in September 1965, and the foundation stone for the rest of the project was laid in March 1967; on completion of all three phases some 700 beds will be available. The second project is the Sandy Bay Convalescent Hospital opened in March 1967 and containing 323 beds; of these 262 are available for convalescent patients from nearby Queen Mary Hospital, while the remainder replace three old and unsatisfactory ward blocks.

The Pok Oi Hospital, near Yuen Long in the New Territories, is another long-established charitable organization operating with the assistance of a government subvention. A new three-storey ward block, brought into operation at the end of 1966, provides improved and expanded facilities especially for maternity and paediatric patients. Further modernization plans are under con- sideration.

A number of the general hospitals are maintained by missionary and other charitable organizations. Several receive substantial government subventions. Some of these hospitals have extensive plans for expansion which are well under way as in the case of the Caritas Medical Centre of 525 beds, the Maryknoll Hospital of 180 beds in Kowloon, the Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital of 350 beds and the Sandy Bay Children's Orthopaedic Hospital of 100 beds.

SPECIALIST SERVICES

In government hospitals there are clinical specialists in anaesthet- ics; chest surgery; dentistry; ear, nose and throat diseases; eye diseases; general medicine; general surgery; neurosurgery; obstet- rics and gynaecology; orthopaedic surgery; psychiatry; pathology; radio-diagnosis and radiotherapy. There are also specialized clinics for tuberculosis and social hygiene, together with specialist serv- ices offered by the Government Chemist's laboratory and the

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