WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1978
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24 CLINICIANS TO BE RECRUITED FOR QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL
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THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE HAS RECOMMENDED THAT AN ADDITIONAL 24 CLINICIANS BE RECRUITED FOR QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO RELIEVE THE SERVICE LOAD ON ITS UNIVERSITY DOCTORS, THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON. E.P. HO, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. JOHN BREMRIDGE, MR. HO SAID THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE PROPOSAL WERE BEING EXAMINED AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE CONCLUSION REACHED, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE PREPARED TO APPROACH THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WITH A VIEW TO THE VOTING OF AN ADDITIONAL GRANT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, RESERVED SOLELY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF STAFF AT ITS MEDICAL SCHOOL.
MR. HO POINTED OUT THAT QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL WAS NOW RUN ON A DUAL CONTROL SYSTEM BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG TO MEET THE SERVICE AND TEACHING ROLES OF THE HOSPITAL.
+BY AND LARGE THESE ARRANGEMENTS HAVE WORKED OVER THE YEARS, PARTLY BECAUSE THE UNIVERSITY CLINICIANS AND THE GOVERNMENT DOCTORS HAVE BOTH GROWN UP WITH THE SYSTEM, AND PARTLY BECAUSE ALL CONCERNED ARE DETERMINED TO MAKE IT WORK EVEN AT SOME INCONVENIENCE TO THEMSELVES, MR. HO SAID.
HOWEVER, MR. HO SAID THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE, WITH THE ADVICE OF AN EXPERT SUB-COMMITTEE, HAD RECOMMENDED THAT AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM IN CLINICAL MANNING SHOULD BE ADOPTED INSTEAD FOR THE NEW TEACHING HOSPITAL NOW BEING BUILT AT SHA TIN FOR THE SECOND MEDICAL SCHOOL.
+THIS MEANS THAT THE CLINICAL STAFF OF THE SHA TIN HOSPITAL, COMPRISING PARTLY UNIVERSITY AND PARTLY GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL. SHOULD ALL SHARE SERVICE AND TEACHING RESPONSIBILITIES BUT WITH A LESSER SERVICE LOAD FOR THE UNIVERSITY STAFF AND A SMALLER TEACHING ROLE FOR THE GOVERNMENT STAFF,+ MR. HO EXPLAINED.
MR. HO ADDED THAT HE HAD PROPOSED TO SET UP A WORKING PARTY TO REVIEW THE MANAGEMENT, ORGANISATION AND STAFFING REQUIREMENTS OF QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL, BEARING IN MIND ITS ROLE AS A TEACHING AS WELL AS SERVICE INSTITUTION.
+ HOPE THAT THIS WORKING PARTY WILL BE ABLE TO COMMENCE ITS DELIBERATIONS EARLY IN JANUARY WITH A VIEW TO THE SUBMISSION OF SPECIFIC PROPOSALS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE THEREAFTER, HE SAID.
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