11
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1987
SOCIAL WELFARE FARING WELL IN 'CAKE-SLICING EXERCISE*
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SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS TO BOTH THE QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF HEALTH AND WEALTH SERVICES CAN BE MADE IN THE 1987-88 FINANCIAL YEAR, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING ON THE RESUMED DEBATE OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1937, MR CHAMBERS DISABUSED MEMBERS' IDEA THAT SOCIAL SERVICES DID NOT DO WELL IN THIS YEAR'S +CAKE-SLICING EXERCISE+.
THE TOTAL RECURRENT EXPENDITURE ON THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, MEDICAL SUBVENTIONS, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT INCLUDING SOCIAL SECURITY, SOCIAL WELFARE SUBVENTIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL IN 1987-88 WILL BE $7.37 BILLION, AS COMPARED TO THE REVISED ESTIMATE OF $6.65 BILLION IN 1986-87.
+MEDICAL SUBVENTIONS HAVE BEEN INCREASED BY 15 PER CENT AND THE PROVISION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, BY NO LESS THAN 82 PER CENT, MR CHAMBERS SAID.
AS FOR SOCIAL WELFARE, HE SAID THAT THE INCREASE WAS OVER 20 PER CENT AS COMPARED WITH LAST YEAR.
ON MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, MR CHAMBERS SAID A MAJOR ISSUE WHICH WOULD AFFECT THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SERVICES WAS THE DECISION ON WHETHER A HOSPITAL AUTHORITY SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED, AND IF SO, HOW.
HE SAID THAT THIS QUESTION HAD WIDE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE STRUCTURE OF THE PUBLIC HOSPITAL SYSTEM, STAFF AND THE ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED IN THE SYSTEM, ITS FUNDING AND THE DELIVERY OF SERVICE. HE STRESSED SUCH AN IMPORTANT DECISION COULD BE
RUSHED.
ON MEMBERS' SUGGESTION THAT THERE WERE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE CONSULTANTS' REPORT WHICH COULD BE IMPLEMENTED UNDER THE EXISTING SYSTEM, HE SAID AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORK ING GROUP HAD ALREADY COMPLETED PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS ON ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE CONSULTANTS.
A
+ITS NEXT TASK WILL BE TO DRAW UP, IN ORDER OF PRIORITY, LIST OF PROJECTS FOR IMPLEMENTATIONS. THIS WORK WILL PROCEED IN PARALLEL WITH THE DETAILED EXAMINATION OF THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY CONCEPT.+
/ONCE THE