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VELJESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1974
EVEN IF EVERYTHING WENT ACCORDING TO PLAN, HE SAID, THE FIRST BATCH OF STUDENTS FROM THE MEDICAL SCHOOL COULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO GRADUATE UNTIL 1984, +VE SIMPLY CANNOT WAIT THAT LONG, STRESSED.
HE
AS ANOTHER STEP IN THE RACE AGAINST TINE, DR. FANG SUGGESTED THAT RATHER THAN WAITING FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE PROPOSED TEACHING HOSPITAL AT SHA TIN, PART OF THE FACILITIES OF THE PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL AT LAI CHI KOK - IS DUE FOR COMPLETION NEXT YEAR - COULD BE USED TO PROVIDE CLINICAL TRAINING FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS UNTIL THE SHA TIN TEACHING HOSPITAL WAS READY.
+THIS WOULD SAVE AT LEAST THREE YEARS OF WAITING AND SHOULD ENSURE GRADUATES FROM THE SECOND MEDICAL SCHOOL WELL BEFORE 1984.+
TURNING TO NURSING, DR. FANG DISAGREED WITH THE PROPOSAL BY THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMITTEE TO RELAX THE MANDATORY REQUIREMENT OF TWO SCIENCE SUBJECTS FOR REGISTERED NURSE TRAINING. HE VIEVED THIS AS A ''RETROGRADE'' STEP WHICH SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN WITHOUT THE MOST CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE CONSEQUENCES.
A SCIENCE BACKGROUND WAS AN IMPORTANT PREREQUISITE IF FIRST LEVEL NURSES WERE TO WORK SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE MEDICAL PRACTIONER TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL AND NURSING SERVICE FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, HE SAID, POINTING OUT THAT THEY MUST BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND, FOR INSTANCE, THE NORMAL BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF THE BODY AND THEIR EFFECTS.
DR. FANG ALSO STRESSED THAT WITH THE PROPOSED NEW TRAINING SCHOOL FOR NURSES, THERE MUST BE A CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF TUTORS AKD CLINICAL INSTRUCTORS OF UHICH THERE IS ALREADY A SHORTAGE.
HE FELT THAT ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THE SHORTACE WAS THE LACK OF PROMOTION PROSPECTS FOR THOSE WHO DID NOT CHOOSE TO BECOME ADMINISTRATORS, AND SUGÇESTED THAT THE COVERMENT CONSIDER TWO DISTINCT STREAMS FOR PROMOTION ONE FOR THE ADMINISTRATORS AND THE OTHER FOR SPECIALIST NURSES. AT PRESENT, PROMOTION PROSPECTS ARE LIMITED TO ADMINISTRATIVE POSTS ONLY.
FK=.FANG SUPPORTED PROPOSALS FOR A COMMUNITY NURSING SCHEME AND FOUND IT +HIGHLY RECRETTACLE+ BIAT THE COVERNHENT FELT UNABLE TO INTRODUCE SUCH A SERVICE WITHIN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, OSTENSIBLY DECAUSE OF STAFF SHORTAGE.
+1 FIND THIS SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT SINCE THERE IS A READY-MADE RESERVOIR OF EXPERTISE AVAILABLE FOR THIS PURPOSE. HE SAID.
HE WAS CONVINCED THAT SUCH A SCHEME WAS REALISTIC AND PRACTICAL IN HONG KONG'S CIRCUMSTANCES AND THAT IT WOULD HELP RELIEVE MUCH NEEDED HOSPITAL EEDS.
DR. FANG ALSO EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT THAT THE WHITE PAPER GAVE LITTLE EMPHASIS TO THE NEED TO DEVELOP REHABILITATION SERVICES IN HONG KONG.
/+HANLITATION