HK$253 million a£á?Jockey Club Inpatient Facilities Modernisation Schemea£á? for hospitals announced at HKJC Community Day

04/13/2014

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust will donate HK$253 million to the Hospital Authority (HA) to launch the Jockey Club Inpatient Facilities Modernisation Scheme, involving the installation of ceiling hoists and electrically-operated beds at public hospitals, Club Chairman T. Brian Stevenson announced today (13 April) at the Sha Tin Racecourse.  Over 200 representatives of Government agencies, non-government organisations, academic institutions and other community groups attended today’s Community Day. 

Noting that the theme of this year’s Community Day race meeting is “Medical and Health”, Mr Stevenson said, “I am pleased to announce our latest major Charities Trust commitment to the medical and health sector with a HK$253 million donation to the Hospital Authority to fund the Jockey Club Inpatient Facilities Modernisation Scheme.  This in fact represents our largest ever single donation to the HA, which is one of our most established community partners.”  This is also the 10th Community Day Race Meeting since its debut in 2005.

Scheduled to be implemented at public hospitals in phases over the coming three years, the project involves installation of over 520 ceiling hoists and over 6,000 electrically-operated beds in public hospitals citywide.

The hoists will provide more comfortable transfer for immobile patients and minimise the risk of occupational injury among nursing staff.  The electrically-operated beds will not only allow patients and carers to adjust the bed heights themselves, but will also reduce medical complications by providing more effective musculoskeletal support and greater self-mobility.  In neurosurgical and ICU wards, the enhanced features of these beds will enable them to be adapted to patients’ specific needs, such as automatic lateral tilt therapy for the prevention of pneumonia and pressure ulcers, and in-bed X-ray examinations where they will save patients from uncomfortable lifting by placing X-ray cassettes under their back.

Once completed, every bed in those wards with highly dependent patients in public hospitals will be electrically-operated, creating a safer environment for these patients and one where they can receive treatment with greater dignity.  By strengthening occupational safety and efficiency, it will also raise the overall standard of healthcare services.

Guest of honour at this year’s Community Day race meeting, Secretary for Food and Health Dr the Hon Ko Wing-man observed that The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust had been the single most important partner and charitable source of the Hospital Authority and the public health services sector.  “In the past decades, the Charities Trust has provided consistent support to numerous new services or service improvement initiatives including hospital and ambulatory or speciality service centre buildings, major advanced equipment, and pilots for innovative service delivery models, as well as professional training and development projects.” He also added that many of these projects including the support in setting up of the Centre for Health Protection, the development of the Communicable Disease Information System and the construction of the Academy of Medicine Building were indeed hallmark events in the history of Hong Kong’s healthcare system.

HA Chairman Professor John CY Leong observed that over the years, the Jockey Club had been an unfailing long-term partner of public healthcare.  This is witnessed in the many healthcare facilities named under the Jockey Club around the territory.  Alongside improved healthcare facilities and advanced medical equipment, the Club also contributes to many patient programmes which directly improve the quality of their lives.  The home dialysis programme in recent years is one shining example. “This year, the first-of-its-kind ‘Inpatient Facilities Modernisation Scheme’ passes on a personal touch of care to our inpatients and their carers.  I wish to thank the Jockey Club for bringing better sleep and easier movements to our patients on their way to recovery. The project will greatly enhance patients’ physical and psychological well-being.”

Over the years, the Jockey Club has contributed some HK$5.8 billion to support the city’s medical development, including setting up numerous Jockey Club clinics and health centres, and more recently, the Centre for Health Protection.  The Trust has also provided long-standing support to HA to launch various projects, such as the renovation of the Jockey Club Institute of Radiotherapy and Oncology at Queen Elizabeth Hospital; the purchase and replacement of vehicles for Non-emergency Ambulance Transfer Service; and the implementation of a Home Renal Replacement Therapy Programme to enable renal patients to receive treatment by themselves at home.

The Club initiated the annual Community Day race meeting in 2005 as a way of honouring its successful partnerships with NGOs, Government agencies, academic institutions and other groups in building a better Hong Kong.  This followed the generous donation of a silver racing trophy, over 160 years old, by collector Tobias Brown, in recognition of the Club's long-standing support for the community.  It has since been renamed The Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Trophy.

The highlight of today's race meeting was the staging of the Community Trophy, which was won by Really The Best, ridden by Dicky C Y Lui.  Dr the Hon Ko Wing-man presented the trophy to Owner Tsen Yun-lei.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is not only one of the world’s leading horse racing organisations, but also Hong Kong’s largest community contributor, donating HK$1.95 billion in 2012/13. In addition, the Club is a major taxpayer, Hong Kong’s single largest by far, generating over HK$17.64 billion in 2012/13 for public funds. The Club pioneers technology applications for sporting and betting entertainment, striving for the highest levels of customer service. As a membership club, it is recognised as one of Asia’s most prestigious. These multifaceted roles make it a well-respected and remarkable organisation, dedicated to its mission of enhancing the quality of life for all Hong Kong people.

The 10th Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Day
This year marks the 10th staging of the annual Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Day, which was inaugurated in 2005.  The race meeting was inspired by Tobias Brown, a Hong Kong silver collector, who generously donated a historic trophy to the Club in recognition of its tremendous charitable contributions to the community. Since then, the race meeting has been held every year.

Made in England by master silversmiths Henry Wilkinson & Co, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Trophy was first presented over 160 years ago and carries an inscription "Cockspinner" on its body, the name of a winning Arab pony at Wongneichong Stakes in February 1852. It was ridden by Lieutenant Burdon of the Royal Navy and owned by William Lamond, an accountant with the Oriental Bank Corporation.

Lamond moved to the bank's Shanghai Branch in 1862 and the trophy later came into the ownership of a Uruguayan diplomat who served in China in the late 1800s.  Nothing was then heard of it for over a century, until it resurfaced in South America and was spotted at auction by Brown, who realised its historical value and brought it back "home" in 2003.

Brown then generously donated the trophy to the Club in recognition of its long-standing commitment and contributions to the community. The renamed trophy has since been awarded annually as a means of highlighting the Club's community contributions.