Question No. 4
Reply by Dr. the Hon. Rudy Khoo, J.P., Ag. Director of Medical & Health Services, to Question by Dr. the Hon. Henrietta Ip in Legislative Council on 24.7.85
Question:
Would Government consider creating a leave relief pool to provide temporary replacements for nurses who are on maternity leave?
Sir,
Provision is made in the MHD for the temporary replacement
of nurses who go on maternity leave from the leave relief pool.
Out of the present establishment of 9,423 nurses in the
civil service, 7.3% or 642 posts have been created as leave relief
reserve. They are used to replace nurses on all types of leaves,
including maternity leave.
In 1984, 423 nurses took maternity leave. The normal period
of maternity leave being 10 weeks, this require 110 nurses for their
relief. Experience has shown that the leave relief pool is adequate
to provide temporary coverage for such leave. The major part of the
pool provides for the relief of nurses taking other forms of leave,
such as vacation leave.
The Department is keeping the situation under regular review,
and efforts are being made continuously with a view to ensure that the
leave relieve requirements for such a large work-force as the nurses
are adequately met within available resources.
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