Medical Social Services Unit
Medical Social Workers provide counselling and assistance for patients and their families to cope with or solve their emotional and social problems which arise as a result of suffering from mental illness. Medical Social Workers (MSWs) of Social Welfare Department (SWD) are stationed in Kwai Chung Hospital so that timely psychosocial intervention can be rendered to those in need.
Scope of Service
1.
Counselling services: through individual casework or groupwork approach, to provide counselling for patients and families on their emotion, personal care, interpersonal and social problems which arise from mental illness;
2.
Psychosocial assessment: formulation of welfare plan, and referrals for rehabilitation and community resources for patients and their families;
3.
Provision of statutory duties: report and supervision on cases under Ordinances, such as Mental Health Ordinance (Cap.136), Protection of Children & Juveniles Ordinance (Cap.213), etc;
4.
Financial/material assistance: e.g. waiving of medical charges, application for charitable/trust fund, referral for social security benefits, etc.;
5.
Collaboration with other medical and allied health professionals to identify persons in the community who are in need of treatment or rehabilitation;
6.
Educational talks and programmes to patients, their families and the public on mental health and welfare related issues.
7.
Talks and training to medical students, student nurses, social work students and para-medical staff on the social and psychological implications of illness and disabilities.
How to get the services?
(a)
Patients and their relatives in need can directly approach Medical Social Services Unit's in the respective hospitals or specialists clinics;
(b)
MSWs would approach patients and their families in need, through out-reaching services; and
(c)
MSWs would receive referrals from medical or allied health professionals in hospitals/clinics and other welfare agencies, government departments, councillors, or the general public.
Telephone Enquiry : 2959 8218
SWD Hotline Service : 2343 2255
Fax Enquiry Number for Hearing Impaired Person : 2763 5874
SWD Web-site: http://www.info.gov.hk/swd