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Hospital eases fear of patients' relatives

The Young Reporter (1994, January 17), 26(04), pp. 7.
Author: Lilian Lau.
Permanent URL - https://sys01.lib.hkbu.edu.hk/bujspa/purl.php?&did=bujspa0001997

By LILIAN LAU

RELATIVES of cancer patients in Nam Long Hospital have the chance to gather in a relaxing occasion at which questions and expressions of feeling are welcome.

This weekly orientation programme is in the form of a tea gathering specially designed for new patients’ family. It primarily aims at introducing the hospital’s services and giving advice to families about social resources.

According to Mr Tse Heung-sang, medical social work-in-charge of Nam Long Hospital, the orientation programme started in November 1992.

“No matter Chinese or Westerners fear death very much, they (patients and their relatives) think entering this hospital means they are approaching death and will never be discharged,” Mr Tse said.

A cancer patient’s relative, Mr Lo, said “Nam Long is horrible for the common people because only terminally-ill cancer patients in dying condition will enter this hospital.”

Mr Tse said, with this orientation programme, the hospital could have the opportunity to clarify the definition of terminally-ill cancer to the misunderstanding people.

Owing to the increased number of beds, the hospital could recruit more patients and not only the terminally-ill cancer patients would enter the hospital, Mr Tse explained.

He said that the treatment for patients was of a “partnership” nature in which intensive co-operation with patients’ family and flexibility provided by the hospital were greatly needed.

“If they (the patients’ families) trust our hospital, they will feel more free to talk about their needs, problems and doubts,” said Mr Tse.

The greatest advantage of the programme was once the families had established a deeper relationship with the hospital staff, they would become more demanding towards the hospital which in turn let the hospital help them more thoroughly and efficiently, he added.

Mr Tse said that this programme was even beneficial to the cancer patients themselves.

“The patients will have less worry as they know that the hospital is taking good care of their families, and they (the patients and their families) can mutually help and support each other,” he said.

Mr Tse said that the hospital not only treated patients “sickness” but also deal with their mental and psychological needs.

“With this programme, our relationship with the patients and their relatives is like a big family instead of a rigid hospital,” said Mr Tse, who appreciates this kind of relationship.

Mr Tse pointed out that the greatest limitation of the programme was not the financial expenses, which only cost a few soft drinks and pamphlets, but the human resources problem.

There are only two social work students from Chinese University of Hongkong, Miss Hung Chun-fan and Miss Lung Tsz-kwan, responsible for hosting the orientation.

Both students said they did face difficulties in hosting the programme.

“It is difficult to create a relaxing atmosphere for the relatives because they are newcomers who are not familiar with the hospital at all,” said Miss Hung.

Also, Miss Lung said, “We are not medical professionals, the medical knowledge we explain to them (the families) may not be convincing enough.”

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