GENERAL HOSPITAL - ORTHOPAEDIC DEPARTMENT (Particulars of cases of hand injuries)

Mr L. P. Rodrigo asked the Minister for Health (a) how many hand injuries have been recorded for treatment at the Orthop‘edic Department in the General Hospital from 1st January, 1968, to the latest convenient date; (b) how many of such injuries had been caused while the injured persons were working with machines in operation; and (c) how many of such injuries have resulted in total or partial permanent disability of the hand.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: During the period 1st January, 1968, to 30th September, 1968 - that is nine months the number of patients treated for hand injuries at the Orthop‘edic Department of the Outram Road General Hospital is 1,679.

Of this number, a total of 289 persons were injured while working with machines in operation.

The assessment for disability is made usually after a period of about six months since the injury. For the period January to March 1968, 51 patients -about ten per cent - of those injured had injuries resulting in total or partial permanent disablement of the hand.