WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1986
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HE SUPPORTED THE REPORT'S RECOMMENDATIONS TO REDUCE
OVERCROWDING IN HOSPITALS BY PROVIDING ADDITIONAL OBSERVATION BEDS AND BY TRANSFERRING PATIENTS FROM OVERCROWDED HOSPITALS TO OTHER HOSPITALS WHERE BEDS WERE AVAILABLE AND WHERE SUCH PATIENTS COULD BE PROPERLY TAKEN CARE OF.
+THE QUESTION IS CAN THE GOVERNMENT GO ABOUT DOING THIS WITHOUT HAVING TO WAIT UNTIL A DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT TO SET UP A SEPARATE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY IS MADE?+ MR CHEONG-LEEN SAID.
HE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO STUDY IN DEPTH THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF SETTING UP A HOSPITAL AUTHORITY BEFORE MAKING A DECISION.
ON THE PROPOSAL CONCERNING B-CLASS BEDS, MR CHEONG-LEEN SUPPORTED THE INTRODUCTION OF A PILOT SCHEME FOR SUCH BEDS IN NEW HOSPITALS OR NEW WINGS, PROVIDED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER AND PROPORTION OF THIRD CLASS BEDS.
CERTAIN ASSURANCES NEEDED FIRST *****
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD GIVE CERTAIN ASSURANCES BEFORE IMPLEMENTING THE PROPOSED MEDICAL SERVICE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM UNDER WHICH ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE INDEPENDENT. THE HON CHUNG PUI-LAM TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING IN THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE REPORT ON THE DELIVERY OF MEDICAL SERVICES IN HOSPITALS, HE SAID THAT:
* THE RECURRENT FUNDS AND CONSTRUCTION EXPENDITURE
ALLOCATED FOR SUBSIDISING MEDICAL SERVICES SHOULD NOT BE REDUCED TO ENSURE THE AVAILABILITY OF FREE MEDICAL SERVICES REQUIRED BY THE POOR AND THE SICKI
* PROSPECTS OF SALARY INCREASE AND PROMOTION FOR
MEDICAL STAFF BASED ON THE EXISTING CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM SHOULD NOT BE AFFECTED THE NEW SYSTEM SHOULD ONLY PRESENT THEM WITH A BETTER FUTURE.
MR LAM SAID THE RECOMMENDATIONS ON SETTING UP A HOSPITAL AUTHORITY, REGIONAL BOARDS AND A STAFF ADVISORY COMMISSION WERE FAIRLY CONSTRUCTIVE IN DEVELOPING THE LARGE MEDICAL NETWORK.
THERE WERE SOME AREAS WHICH CALLED FOR FURTHER REVIEW, THE REPORT ONLY CONCENTRATED ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT OF A MEDICAL SERVICE SYSTEM WITH A VIEW TO ACHIEVING A BETTER VALUE FOR TAXPAYERS' MONEY, WHILE OUTPATIENT AND COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES WERE NOT MENTIONED.
+
IF OUTPATIENT SERVICE WAS ADEQUATE, THE DEMAND FOR HOSPITAL BEDS AND FOR ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT SERVICE MIGHT BE REDUCED.
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