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THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1980
MISS BENNETT IN PARTICULAR STRESSED THAT SUBVENTED HOSPITALS SHOULD HAVE THE SAME STAFF RATIOS AS GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS FOR THE SAME TYPE OF CLINICAL UNITS.
+WHEN IMPROVEMENTS AND ADJUSTMENTS ARE MADE IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS THEY SHOULD BE AUTOMATICALLY EXTENDED TO SUBVENTED HOSPITALS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR,+ SHE SAID.
AT PRESENT, SHE EXPLAINED, WHEN THEY APPLY FOR PARITY OF TREATMENT THEY MAY OR MAY NOT RECEIVE IT.
SHE HOPED THEREFORE THAT IF THE CURRENT REQUEST BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR SUPERVISORY STAFF AT CHIEF NURSING OFFICER AND SENIOR NURSING OFFICER RANKS IN THE NURSING EDUCATION UNIT IS ACCEPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT, SIMILAR STAFF SHOULD BE GRANTED IN SUBVENTED SCHOOLS OF NURSING.
SHE POINTED OUT THAT AT PRESENT ALL SCHOOLS OF NURSING ARE SERIOUSLY UNDERSTAFFED. THE GOVERNMENT STAFFING RATIO IS ONE NURSE TUTOR TO EVERY 40 NURSES IN TRAINING. IN BRITAIN, IT IS ONE TO 25.
SHE WARNED THAT THE QUICKEST WAY TO DOWNGRADE THE SUBVENTED HOSPITALS IN THE EYES OF THE PUBLIC IS FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO THINK THAT THEY NEED NOT HAVE THE SAME STAFFING SINCE THEY ARE REGIONAL HOSPITALS AND IF THEY CANNOT COPE THEY CAN SEND THEIR PATIENTS TO GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS.
+HOW WILL THEY ATTRACT GOOD DOCTORS IF THEY ARE TO BE CONFINED TO THE ROLE OF PROVIDING CONVALESCENT AND NON-SPECIALIST BEDS. NATURALLY NOT EVERY HOSPITAL CAN PROVIDE ALL VARIETIES OF SPECIALIST TREATMENT. BUT IN EVERY DISTRICT WE NEED TO HAVE REGIONAL CENTRES FOR CERTAIN SPECIALITIES BASED ON THE ACUTE GENERAL HOSPITAL WHICH WILL BE RUN EITHER BY GOVERNMENT OR BY A VOLUNTARY BODY,+ SHE SAID.
SHE HOPED THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE FINANCE BRANCH WOULD EXAMINE THESE BASIC ISSUES AND UPGRADE MEDICAL PROVISION IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, JUST AS THE EDUCATION SYSTEM HAD BEEN IMPROVED WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF SIMILAR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ALL AIDED SCHOOLS THROUGH A UNIFIED CODE OF AID.
SHE PERSONALLY SUPPORTED THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY OF RELIANCE ON VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN SUPPLEMENTING SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES, BECAUSE IT PROVIDES FLEXIBILITY AND INDIVIDUALITY AND ALLOWS FULL PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC SERVICES TO A VAST NUMBER OF PHILANTHROPIC BODIES AND INDIVIDUALS. SHE FELT THERE SHOULD BE IMPROVEMENTS AND THE SUGGESTIONS SHE MADE ON THE HOSPITAL SCENE COULD BE APPLIED TO ALL OF OUR SOCIAL SERVICE INSTITUTIONS.
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