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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1987
LAY ELEMENT ON MEDICAL, DENTAL BODIES
THE GOVERNMENT HAS CONSIDERED IT APPROPRIATE FOR A LAY ELEMENT TO BE INTRODUCED INTO BACH OF THE MEDICAL, DENTAL. NURSING AND MIDWIVES BOARDS AND COUNCILS, то PROVIDE A LINK BETWEEN THE PROFESSIONS AND THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING DURING THE SECOND READING OF THE MEDICAL REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987, THE DENTISTS REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1987, THE NURSES REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987 AND THE MIDWIVES REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL
1987, MR CHAMBERS SAID THE GOVERNMENT NOW BELIEVED THAT IT WAS NO LONGER APPROPRIATE THAT THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES SHOULD BE THE EX-OFFICIO HEAD OF THE BODIES WHICH WERE OFTEN REQUIRED TO ACT IN A QUASI-JUDICIAL CAPACITY IN DISCIPLINARY ENQUIRIES INVOLVING MEMBERS OF THE MEDICAL, DENTAL, NURSING AND MIDWIVES PROFESSIONS.
"MOREOVER FOR THE DIRECTOR TO RELINQUISH THE CHAIRMANSHIP WOULD ENHANCE THE SELF-REGULATING AND INDEPENDENT STATUS OF THE FOUR
PROFESSIONS.
A
"FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH THE FOUR BODIES IT IS PROPOSED THAT INITIALLY THERE SHOULD BE ONE LAY MEMBER ON EACH BODY, PENDING COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE COMPOSITION OF EACH OF THE COUNCILS AND BOARDS, MR CHAMBERS ADDED.
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HE SAID THE BILLS PROVIDED FOR THE CHAIRMEN OF THE FOUR BODIES TO BE ELECTED BY THE MEMBERS FROM AMONGST THEMSELVES.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES WOULD REMAIN A MEMBER OF THE MEDICAL COUNCIL IN HIS CAPACITY AS REGISTRAR OF MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS, AND THAT IN THE NURSING BOARD, DENTAL COUNCIL AND MIDWIVES BOARDS WOULD BE REPLACED BY THE DIRECTOR OF NURSING SERVICES, THE CONSULTANT DENTAL SURGEON IN CHARGE OF THE GOVERNMENT DENTAL SERVICE, AND THE NURSING DIRECTOR RESPECTIVELY.
MR CHAMBERS SAID THE BILLS ALSO PROVIDED FOR THE APPOINTMENT BY THE GOVERNOR OF ONE LAY MEMBER EACH OF THE COUNCILS AND BOARDS, AND, IN ADDITION, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY KONG WOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THE NURSING AND MIDWIVES BOARDS.
DEBATE ON THE BILLS WAS ADJOURNED.
OF
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