he newly-opened Wu Ho Loo Ning Cataract Centre in Tseung Kwan O Hospital effectively shortens the queue for surgery in the district to two years. With the new facilities, the number of cataract surgery performed in Kowloon East Cluster is doubled to 5,000 cases per year. Donated by Wu Jieh Yee Charitable Foundation, the centre is also used for training purpose. The centre was officially opened on 17 November.

ith each swish of the robotic device attached to her arms and legs, Sally, who was paralysed in a car accident three years ago, is now able to use her left hand and sit up for 30 minutes. The new robotic system at Queen Elizabeth Hospital rekindles hope to patients with brain damage, spinal cord injuries and stroke. In the past, the impairment of these patients made physical rehabilitation exercises very difficult. The new devices can now assist their walking movements. Generally each patient would receive 12 sessions of training and walk about 1,000 steps each time. The robotic machine is planned to treat up to 4,000 patients every year.

o meet the increased demand from the aging population in Sham Shui Po, Caritas Medical Centre is redeveloping its ambulatory / rehabilitation block. When the new block is commissioned, the number of in-patient beds for rehabilitation and palliative care will rise from the current 226 to 260, while the day surgery operating rooms will increase from one to three. Additional out-patient consultation rooms will be provided for general and specialist out-patient, as well as ophthalmic services. Foundation works for the ambulatory / rehabilitation block were completed in October 2011.The project is expected to complete in late-2013.

t's been the sixth year that the New Territories East Cluster (NTEC) compiles the real-life stories of frontline staff in a book with an aim to cultivate and advocate its caring spirit. Caring Forum Booklet Six is a collection of touching stories told by the writers at the Seventh NTEC Caring Forum in October. The heartfelt articles not only help us understand the feelings and experiences of the doctors, nurses, allied health and supporting staff, but also touch us with their caring heart for patients. The publication will be released in February 2012.