LEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1974
THE GREEN PAPER WHICH PRECEDED THE WHITE PAPER HAD STATED THAT A LOCAL SOURCE OF SUPPLY TO PRODUSE GY 1992 AN ADDITIONAL 100 DOCTORS ANNUALLY COULD BE NEEDED -- 40 TO HEET THE SHORTFALL OF 1973-1982, ANOTHER 40 TO MEET THE NEEDS OF 1903-1992, AND 20 FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
DR. CHOA RECALLED THAT THE PROBLEM OF THE SUPPLY OF DOCTORS HAD BEEN REFERRED TO, AND HAD BEEN CAREFULLY CONSIDERED BY, THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC CRANTS COMMITTEE. O HAD RECOMMENDED A SECOND MEDICAL SCHOOL AT THE CHINESE ULVERSITY OF HONG KONG. THIS SCHOOL WOULD PROVIDE FACILITIES FOR TRAINING 100 ADDITIONAL DOCTORS EACH YEAR.
IN THEIR REPORT, THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE HAD EXPLAINED THAT STOP-GAP MEASURES, SUCH AS USING EXISTING HOSPITAL FACILITIES AND CONSTRUCTING ADDITICAL BUILDINGS, WERE NOT PRACTICAL FOR VARIOUS REASONS, INCLUDING THE HEAVY EXPENDITURE INVOLVED AND THE DISRUPTION OF NONIAL SERVICES.
SIMILARLY, THE COMMITTEE HAD ALSO TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE
DIFFERENT ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS OF THE TWO UNIVERSITIES BEFORE
IT MADE ITS RECOMMENDATIONS.
+FURTHERMORE, I HAVE PREVIOUSLY EXPLAINED TO THIS COUNCIL THAT TO APPRECIATE THE TRUE POSITION OF VACANCIES IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH OFFICER RANK, THE NUMBER OF LEAVE RESERVE POSTS MUST BE BORNE IN MIND,+ HE SAID.
+ IT HAS BEEN CONTENDED THAT THE LONG QUEUES OUTSIDE THE GENERAL CLINICS AND THE CAMP BEDS IN THE MAJOR HOSPITALS REFLECT
A SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS. I WOULD RATHER ATTRIBUTE THESE PHENOMENA TO THE INCREASE IN NUMBER OF PATIENTS OVER THE YEARS, AND THE PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS OF THE EXISTING HOSPITALS AND CLINICS TO COPE WITH THE INCREASE.+
AS REGARDS NURSES, DR. CHOA SAID IN CONNECTION WITH THE REGIONALISATION SCHEME PROPOSED IN THE WHITE PAPER, PLANS HAD BEEN DRAWN UP TO REORGANISE THE ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE OF BOTH THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH AND THE NURSING SERVICES.
+ THE REORGANISATION IS MUCH MORE INVOLVED IN THE NURSING SERVICES, AND THE PROVISION OF A BETTER CAREER STRUCTURE FOR NURSING OFFICERS IN THE CLINICAL, EDUCATIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE STREAMS HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT,+ HE TOLD THE COUNCIL.
+ IN THIS LATTER RESPECT. OUR PLANS FOR THE EDUCATIONAL STREAM HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED BY A NURSING ADVISER CHISS MARGARET LAMB) WHO RECENTLY VISITED HONG KONG. IT IS HY INTENTION THAT HER REPORT SHOULD DE CIRCULATED TO INTERESTED CODIES FOR
INFORMATION AND COMMENT.+
DR. CHOA REPEATED THAT IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE AT THIS TIME TO CONSIDER INAUGURATING A COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE. THE REASONS WERE THAT EVEN IF THERE WERE A RESERVOIR OF RECRUITS, THERE WOULD REMAIN A SHORTAGE OF STAFF TO ADMINISTER IT, AND ALSO THE NURSE TUTORS TO GIVE THE NECESSARY TGAINING, CONSIDERING THAT SUCH A SERVICE SHOULD APPLY TO THE WHOLE OF HONG KONG.
/IHE PROMISED