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Health
Hong Kong Baptist Hospital, Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital, St Teresa's Hospital, Union Hospital and TWC provide pre-enrolment nursing training. They recruited 326 pupil nurses into their two-year Higher Diploma in Enrolled Nurse (General) programmes in 2020. OUHK enrolled 230 and 60 pupils in its two-year Higher Diploma in General Health and Higher Diploma in Mental Health Nursing programmes respectively. Twenty-five nurses with professional nursing qualifications obtained outside Hong Kong passed the Nursing Council of Hong Kong's licensing examinations and received practising certificates for registered nurses or enrolled
nurses.
Government-subsidised, self-financing undergraduate programmes in nursing offered 1,160 places in 2019-20.
The Hospital Authority's three-year higher diploma programme provides pre-registration. nursing training and enrolled 300 students in 2020. Another 100 pupil nurses were admitted to its two-year pre-enrolment nursing training programme.
The Hospital Authority's Institute of Advanced Nursing Studies strengthens specialty training for nurses and encourages them to improve professional standards through continuous learning. New graduates undergo simulation training to strengthen their competence and skills in clinical care and medical emergencies. The Hospital Authority also offers scholarships for experienced nurses to attend overseas training and gain international exposure.
Laboratory Services
Public Health Laboratory Services
The Department of Health's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch conducts laboratory tests on clinical and surveillance specimens and provides clinical diagnostic and public health laboratory services to the public and private sectors for patient care and other public health
purposes.
Laboratories of the branch's Microbiology Division are variously designated by the WHO as a National Influenza Centre, National Polio Laboratory, National Measles Laboratory, Supranational Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, Regional Reference Laboratory for Measles and Rubella in the Western Pacific Region, Global Influenza A(H5) Reference Laboratory, Global Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Reference Laboratory and COVID-19 Reference Laboratory.
Auxiliary Medical Service
The Auxiliary Medical Service (AMS) is a government department under the Security Bureau, with 99 civil service positions and over 6,000 adult volunteers and cadets. It reinforces regular medical and ambulance services during emergencies and provides backup in normal circumstances.
The volunteers come from all walks of life and include doctors, nurses, pharmacists and paramedics. All are qualified Disaster Medical Assistants. The cadets, aged 12 to 17, receive training in discipline and medical skills to develop self-discipline and a sense of responsibility.
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