ENG-1993 — Page 195

HEALTH

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Performance Pledge

The Department of Health has set performance pledges with the aim of improving the delivery of services to the public and developing a more customer-oriented culture of service. Phase I of the programme covered 15 general out-patient clinics starting from December 1992. Phase II extended the programme to another 13 clinics from August 1993. Improvements achieved included the use of medical records and patient-held records to enhance continuity of care, shortened waiting times, labelling of all dispensed medicine, a better clinic environment, health education and counselling by nurses.

Family Health

The Family Health Service of the department operates 47 maternal and child health centres, providing a comprehensive health programme for women of child-bearing age and children aged below six years. Ante-natal and post-natal medical consultation, as well as family planning services, are offered to women. Immunisation, child health advice and physical examinations are provided for children. During the year, about 92 per cent of newborn babies attended maternal and child health centres.

Under the Comprehensive Observation Service, children are assessed at different ages for early detection of developmental abnormalities. They are referred to specialist clinics or child assessment centres for further examination, as necessary.

There are four government (and one government-assisted) child assessment centres. -These provide comprehensive physical, psychological and social assessment as well as treatment, parental counselling and referrals for the appropriate placement of children in the various institutions and centres run by the government and voluntary agencies. Three more centres have been included in the department's medical development programme.

Health education is an essential component of the Family Health Service. In addition to health talks and counselling on child care at centres, health education for expectant mothers has been extended to public hospitals, with emphasis on the promotion of breast-feeding. A telephone service is available to answer public enquiries.

The government-subvented Family Planning Association of Hong Kong runs 22 birth control clinics, providing services such as pre-marital counselling, contraception, sterilisation, vasectomy and advice on sub-fertility. It also provides health education and publicity on family planning and sex education.

Medical Care for the Elderly

The provision of hospital facilities for acute geriatric cases has been made an urgent priority. The government announced that by 1997, an additional 461 acute beds and day-places would be provided for elderly patients, bringing the total to 1 735.

A network of nursing homes with medical and nursing facilities is also being developed for elderly patients who would otherwise have to remain in hospital or in an infirmary. By 1997, an initial seven nursing homes providing 1 400 beds at a capital cost of about $800 million will be in operation.

In 1994-95, a total of six new specialist medical teams will be formed to provide health care, assessment and rehabilitation services for a total of 55 700 elderly people.

School Health

The School Medical Service Scheme is operated by an independent School Medical Service Board. Participation is voluntary and all students from Primary 1 to Form 3 of

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