TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 1986
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL HAD RECENTLY DIRECTED THAT THE REPORT SHOULD BE PUBLISHED AS A CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT.
THE REPORT, A BULKY DOCUMENT, IS SUMMARISED IN THE EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW IN THE FIRST 11 PAGES. THE SUCCEEDING CHAPTERS THEN ADDRESS THE TERMS OF REFERENCE BEFORE CONCLUDING WITH A SUMMARY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE CONSULTANTS NOTED IN THE REPORT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS OVER THE PAST DECADE AND THAT THE RESULTS IN TERMS OF PUBLIC HEALTH HAVE BEEN IMPRESSIVE,
HOWEVER, THE IR EXAMINATION HAS REVEALED SOME CRITICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FUTURE AND STRONG PRESSURES FOR CHANGE. THESE IMPLICATIONS INCLUDE THE INCREASING COST OF PROVIDING HOSPITAL MEDICAL SERVICES, RISING COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS, GROWING CONCERN AMONG THE SUBVENTED ORGANISATIONS OVER STAFF FRINGE BENEFITS AND OVER THE GENERAL LOWER OVERALL LEVEL OF FUNDING WHEN COMPARED WITH GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS, PROBLEMS ARISING FROM DIFFICULTIES IN IDENTIFYING EXPENDITURE PRIORITIES AND WEAKNESSES IN THE REGIONALISATION STRUCTURE.
THE MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT ARE:
(A)
AN INDEPENDENT STATUTORY HOSPITAL AUTHORITY, LARGELY FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT, SHOULD BE SET UP WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL MATTERS PERTAINING TO THE DELIVERY OF MEDICAL SERVICES IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS (1.E. THE EXISTING GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS). (PAGE 5-14)
(B) EVENTUALLY ALL AUTHORITY STAFF SHOULD WORK UNDER
COMMON TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE, OUTSIDE THE CIVIL SERVICE. (PAGE 5-17)
(C)
SEVEN REGIONS (EVENTUALLY NINE) SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED FOR MEDICAL SERVICES AND EACH REGION SHOULD HAVE A LOCAL BOARD OF MANAGEMENT. (PAGE 5-22)
(D) THERE SHOULD BE A CHIEF EXECUTIVE WITH OVERALL AUTHORITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF EACH MAJOR HOSPITAL. THE CONSULTANTS CONSIDERED THAT, AT LEAST INITIALLY, CHIEF EXECUTIVES WOULD BE MEDICALLY QUALIFIED. IN EACH HOSPITAL A CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, A CHIEF NURSING OFFICER AND A CHIEF HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR WOULD REPORT TO THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE. (PAGE 6-37)
(E)
THE NUMBER OF BEDS MANAGED BY ONE CONSULTANT SHOULD BE REDUCED TO BETWEEN 60 AND 80 IN MOST NORMAL MEDICAL AND SURGICAL WARDS. (PAGE 6-38)
/(F) THERE
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