Page 88 - HKU Surgery 110 Anniversary E-Book

Chapter IV. A Centre of Excellence

Swing Time

Another pioneering surgical achievement One day, Professor Wei was treating a
at that time was the maxillary swing patient with cancer of the maxilla and
operation. Head and neck surgeon found that without the maxilla, it was
Professor William Wei had been possible to see the nasopharynx. “We
frustrated at the difficulty in accessing thought, is it possible to swing away the
nasopharyngeal cancer – a once-common maxilla, remove the tumour, and swing
cancer in Hong Kong – because it lay it back?” he said. After practising on
in the middle of the head. There was an cadavers, he perfected the technique and
urgent need to find a solution because soon had a patient who had no other
some patients failed to be cured with options and was willing to give it a try.
radiation and chemotherapy. The operation succeeded and has been
tested and used around the world.

A Changing Clinical

Environment

The suboptimal hospital conditions Surgical Unit was amalgamated with the
in the 1980s became less tolerable to University Surgical Unit to provide a more
a population that was increasingly cohesive service model. It was decided
middle class and better educated. The that the Head of Surgery at HKU would
demand for better service helped spur the also be the Chief of Service (Surgery) at
establishment of the Hospital Authority Queen Mary Hospital, although other
(HA) in late 1990. Thirty-eight public disciplines in the Faculty split the jobs
hospitals were brought under its umbrella between two people. This arrangement
with the aim of modernising hospital gave rise to the modern Department of
management and introducing efficiency, Surgery. Some staff are on HA terms,
accountability and standardised service while others are on HKU terms with the
– changes largely positive for healthcare. latter required to spend about 50-55% of
their time on clinical work and the rest
The HA also heralded changes that affected on teaching and research (although the
Adapted from Head & Neck, 1991 . the Department. In 1996, the previously division of time is arbitrary and HA staff
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distinct and autonomous Government can also do research if they wish).

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