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WEDNESDAY, OCT.BEK 15, 1986
ON THE PROPOSAL TO SET UP A HOSPITAL AUTHORITY, MR TAM SAID THAT STAFF OF GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS WERE OF THE OPINION THAT THIS WOULD FORCE THEM TO BE DETACHED FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE
ESTABLIS NT AND THAT THEIR PAY, FRINGE BENEFITS, PROMOTION PROSPECT AND MORALE WOULD BE AFFECTED.
HE AGREED THAT THE INTENTION TO ACHIEVE EQUAL TREATMENT FOR STAFF OF GOVERNMENT AND OF SUBVENTED HOSPITALS WAS GOOD, BUT HE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE WAY TO DO IT BY A +SETBACK+ METHOD WOULD AFFECT THE MORALE OF CIVIL SERVANTS IN THE HOSPITAL FIELD.
EARLY ACTION NEEDED TO IMPROVE SERVICES *****
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THE DESIRABILITY OF SETTING UP AN INDEPENDENT HOSPITAL AUTHORITY AND SHOULD IMPROVE MEDICAL SERVICES IN HOSPITALS WITHOUT WAITING FOR THE OUTCOME OF SUCH AN OPTION.
THESE WERE THE UNANIMOUS VIEWS OF THE OMELCO HEALTH SERVICES PANEL AS EXPRESSED BY DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP WHEN SHE CONCLUDED THE ADJOURNMENT DE BATE ON THE MEDICAL CONSULTANCY REPORT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) ON BEHALF OF THE PANEL MEMBERS.
LISTING THE THREE UNANIMOUS VIEWS, DR IP SAID: +GOVERNMENT SHOULD DULY REVIEW THE OUTPATIENT SERVICES WHICH ARE PART AND PARCEL OF MEDICAL SERVICES AND, IN PARTICULAR, HOW IT WORKS IN TANDEM WITH MEDICAL SERVICES IN HOSPITALS TO PROVIDE BETTER HOSPITAL AND FOLLOW-UP CARE AND TO REDUCE HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS.
+IN THE LIGHT OF THE VARIOUS VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY OPTION, GOVERNMENT SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THE DESIRABILITY OF THE SETTING UP OF SUCH A BODY AND TO LOOK INTO WAYS WHICH WILL ACHIEVE THE SAME GOAL OF IMPROVING EXISTING MEDICAL SERVICES IN HOSPITALS.
+GOVERNMENT SHOULD BRING ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS IN MEDICAL SERVICES IN HOSPITALS WITHOUT NECESSARILY WAITING FOR THE OUTCOME OF THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY OPTION.+
CAUTIONING THAT CHANGES MUST NECESSARILY BE EVOLUTIONARY, DR IP SAID: +IF THERE IS TO BE AN INDEPENDENT HOSPITAL AUTHORITY, THERE SHOULD BE A GRADUAL INCLUSION OF HOSPITALS UNDER THE AUTHORITY RATHER THAN TO TURN ALL HOSPITALS UNDER THE AUTHORITY OVERNIGHT.
/+IF GOVERNMENT