16
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 1988
COULD NOT BE
HONG KONG
THE REASON WHY THIS RECOMMENDATION OF THE MDAC TRANSLATED INTO ACTION WAS THAT ON THE ONR HAND, EXPERIENCED SLOW GROWTH IN THE MANPOWER FOR PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES, WHILE, ON THE OTHER HAND, THE DEMAND FOR PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES WAS RISING, HE SAID.
HE SAID THE MANPOWER SUPPLY IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE HAD BEEN FURTHER HAMPERED BY THE UNPOPULARITY
OF PSYCHIATRY AMONG QUALIFIED DOCTORS.
DOCTOR-TO-PATIENT RATIO
ACCORDING TO DR CHIU, THE UNDESIRABLE AND A HEAVY WORKLOAD HAD ADVERSELY AFFECTED THE QUALITY AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CARE TO A LARGE ·EXTENT.
OF
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WAS A RAPID TURNOVER RATE AND A SHORTAGE GOVERNMENT MEDICAL STAFF IN GENERAL, AND PSYCHIATRISTS
PARTICULAR.
IN
"UNLESS MORE INCENTIVES SUCH AS BETTER TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, WORKING CONDITION AND PROMOTION PROSPECTS CAN BE MADE IN THIS AREA, SENIOR POSTS IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS AND THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE WILL SOON BE LEFT UNFILLED BECAUSE OF A LACK OF EXPERIENCED STAFF.
"THEREFORE, WAYS то RECRUIT AND RETAIN DOCTORS, INCLUDING PSYCHIATRISTS, IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE AS A WHOLE SHOULD BE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED,' HE SAID.
"
SOME PROVISIONS RESTRICT PERSONAL LIBERTY
* * * * *
THE MENTAL HEALTH (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987 STILL CONTAINS PROVISIONS WHICH REMAIN RESTRICTIVE TO THE PERSONAL LIBERTY OF PATIENTS, THE HON HUI YIN-FAT SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL {WEDNESDAY).
A
FEW
MENTAL
TODAY
GIVEN
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL, MR HUI SAID THE POWER TO THE POLICE TO REMOVE ANYONE SEEMINGLY SUFFERING FROM MENTAL DISORDER TO A PLACE OF SAFETY GAVE CAUSE FOR CONCERN.
"FOR A POLICE OFFICER TO DECIDE ON A PERSON'S STATE OF MIND, ALBEIT HE HAS REASONS TO SUPPORT HIM, NOT ONLY OVER-ESTIMATES HIS ABILITY TO JUDGE, BUT ALSO UNDERMINES THE ARGUMENT ADVANCED BY THE ADMINISTRATION THAT THE DETENTION OF MENTAL PATIENTS IS ESSENTIALLY MATTER OF MEDICAL OPINION," HE SAID.
A
/SECTION 71B