Health 165
there were 26 981 public hospital beds, comprising 20 673 general beds, 2041 infirmary beds, 3 607 beds for the mentally ill and 660 beds for the mentally handicapped. In addition, there were 3 949 beds in private hospitals, 3 803 in nursing homes and 792 in institutions run by the Correctional Services Department. There are five beds per thousand of population.
According to existing figures, spending on secondary, tertiary and specialised healthcare services, including public specialist outpatient and inpatient services, as well as private inpatient services, amounts to about $36.4 billion, of which spending on public specialist outpatient and inpatient services accounts for 80 per cent.
Specialist Outpatient Service
Public sector secondary and tertiary ambulatory medical services are provided mainly through HA's specialist clinics. At these clinics, patients' symptoms are diagnosed and treatment is provided. About $6.6 billion was allocated in the 2009- 10 financial year for these services.
Hospital clusters under HA have specialist clinics for a wide range of specialties, including internal medicine surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, orthopaedics and traumatology, ear, nose and throat, ophthalmology, psychiatry, neurosurgery, oncology and cardio-thoracic surgery.
In 2010, members of the public made close to 6.57 million visits to public hospital specialist outpatient clinics.
Under the HA's triage system, appointments for new patients are made on the basis of the severity of their condition.
Patients in stable condition are referred back to primary care practitioners in the private sector or HA's general outpatient clinics.
Allied Health Service
Allied health professionals working under the HA include audiologists, clinical psychologists, dietitians, occupational therapists, optometrists, orthoptists, physiotherapists, podiatrists, prosthetists and orthotists, speech therapists and medical social workers. They provide rehabilitative and extended care for patients. receiving inpatient, outpatient, ambulatory and community care services to help them reintegrate into society. During the year, the HA strengthened the manpower for allied health service, providing support for the chronic disease management programme, mental health service, and integrated discharge support programme for elderly patients and other rehabilitation services, so as to further help patients reintegrate into the society.
In 2010, members of the public made about 2.09 million visits to allied health outpatient departments. Allied health professionals such as medical laboratory technologists, diagnostic radiographers, radiation therapists, medical physicists and medical scientific officers also assist medical practitioners in making diagnoses and monitoring the treatment results.
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Private notes are available after approval.