8
·
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1976
FULL SUPPORT TO KWONG WAH OVER STAFF
*****
THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. THE HON. GERALD CHOA, TODAY GAVE AN ASSURANCE THAT HIS DEPARTMENT WOULD +GIVE EVERY SUPPORT TO THE KWONG WAH HOSPITAL+ TO TIDE OVER ITS CURRENT DOCTOR SHORTAGE PROBLEM.
DR. CHOA WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD STEP IN TO HELP THE HOSPITAL MAINTAIN ADEQUATE SERVICES FOLLOWING THE RECENT RESIGNATION OF A NUMBER OF DOCTORS.
DR. CHOA SAID HIS DEPARTMENT WAS INFORMED LAST WEEK THAT 10 MEDICAL OFFICERS IN THE MEDICAL UNIT OF THE KWONG WAH HOSPITAL HAD RESIGNED.
SINCE IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE REMAINING STAFF TO DEAL WITH THE TOTAL NUMBER OF 420 BEDS IN THE UNIT, IT WAS DECIDED THAT 120 BEDS SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR CASES TRANSFERRED FROM MEDICAL UNITS OF THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL, WHICH WOULD REMAIN RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR TREATMENT AND CARE.
DR. CHOA STRESSED THAT THIS WOULD +MAINTAIN MAXIMUM UTILISATION OF THE BEDS+ IN THE MEDICAL UNIT OF KWONG WAH.
IN ADDITION, MEDICAL EMERGENCY CASES WERE DIVERTED TO QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL BETWEEN 9 A.M. AND 10 P.M. BECAUSE THE DEPLETED MEDICAL STAFF IN THE KWONG WAH HOSPITAL COULD NOT DEAL WITH A 24- HOUR SERVICE. THESE ARRANGEMENTS TOOK EFFECT FROM MARCH 2.
TO COPE WITH THE EXTRA LOAD ON QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL. THE MEDICAL UNITS HAD BEEN AUGMENTED BY THREE MEDICAL OFFICERS, HE SAID.
+ADEQUATE SERVICES HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED IN THE MEDICAL UNIT OF THE KWONG WAH HOSPITAL IN THE WAY I HAVE DESCRIBED AND OTHER UNITS HAVE NOT BEEN AFFECTED.
+ IT IS HOPED THAT THE SITUATION IN THE KWONG WAH HOSPITAL WILL RETURN TO NORMAL SOON WHEN THE VACANCIES ARE FILLED BY RECRUITMENT,+ DR. CHOA SAID.
19