WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1983
NO SERIOUS DEFICIENCY FOUND IN DENTAL EQUIPMENT
*****
A TEAM OF GOVERNMENT EXPERTS FORMED TO CARRY OUT AN INVESTIGATION INTO EQUIPMENT AT THE PRINCE PHILIP DENTAL HOSPITAL CONCLUDED WITHIN ITS TERMS OF REFERENCE THAT THERE WAS NO SERIOUS GENERAL DEFICIENCY IN THE EQUIPMENT INSTALLED. AND INDEED THE OVERALL IMPRESSION WAS ONE OF GOOD QUALITY, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON DAVID MCDONALD, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON S.L. CHEN, MR MCDONALD SAID THAT THE TEAM WAS FORMED AT THE REQUEST OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE HOSPITAL FOLLOWING RECEIPT OF REPORTS OF MALFUNCTIONING OF SOME ITEMS OF EQUIPMENT AT THE HOSPITAL.
THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE TEAM WERE +TO INVESTIGATE THE ENGINEERING SAFETY ASPECTS OF ALL MEDICAL AND RELATED EQUIPMENT AT THE PRINCE PHILIP DENTAL HOSPITAL TOGETHER WITH ANY FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS OF THE EQUIPMENT THAT IS PATIENT RELATED+.
MR MCDONALD SAID THAT THE TEAM INCLUDED MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERS AND A DENTAL SPECIALIST.
IT STARTED WORK ON DECEMBER 6 LAST YEAR AND SUBMITTED ITS REPORT ON JANUARY 12 THIS YEAR,
+HOWEVER IN MATTERS OF DETAIL SOME ELEMENTS WERE FOUND TO BE FAULTY OR UNSATISFACTORY AND THE TEAM HAS RECOMMENDED THE IMPLEMENTATION OF REMEDIAL WORKS AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $700 000.+
+SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF FUNDS BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE WORKS WILL BE PUT IN HAND AND COMPLETED AS A MATTER OF URGENCY, + MR MCDONALD SAID.
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN CONNECTION WITH EQUIPMENT AT THE PRINCE PHILIP DENTAL HOSPITAL:
THE HON S.L. CHEN:
S FOR L AND WI
SIR, I AM ATTRACTED BY THE WORDS +A MATTER OF URGENCY, WHY IS THIS A MATTER OF URGENCY?
WILL THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS AGREE WITH MY OBSERVATIONS THAT THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF RISK AND DANGER TO THE PUBLIC IF THE DEFECTS ARE NOT CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY?
SIR, FEW ITEMS AND PARTS OF ITEMS WHICH WERE FELT TO CARRY HIGHER RISK POTENTIAL WERE DISCONNECTED OR WITHDRAWN FROM SERVICE. OTHER ITEMS WITH UNSATISFACTORY BUT LESS CRITICAL FEATURES ARE STILL IN USE. BUT I FEEL SURE THE HOSPITAL HEADS OF DEPARTMENT WITH THE IR WEALTH OF PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE WILL NOT CONTINUE TO USE THEM IF THEY WERE CONSIDERED TO BE UNSAFE.
/MR S.L. CHEN:
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