2
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 1989
ΤΟ
"BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT ANY REASONABLE PERSONS COULD EXPECT US TO COME UP WITH A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION OVERNIGHT
THESE LONG
TERM PROBLEMS."
SIR DAVID SAID A NEW ORGANISATION AND STRUCTURE FOR THE HOSPITAL SERVICE AND REVISED CONDITIONS FOR STAFF MUST BE A MATTER FOR THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY.
THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID AS HEAD OF THE CIVIL SERVICE HE WAS BY CONCERNED BY THE RECENT ACTION TAKEN BY DOCTORS AND MORE RECENTLY NURSES, TO QUOTE THEIR WORDS,
EMBARRASS THE ADMINISTRATION TAKING INDUSTRIAL ACTION".
"TO
BY
"WE HAVE A LONG TRADITION IN THE CIVIL SERVICE OF RESOLVING OUR PROBLEMS BY CAREFUL AND PATIENT DISCUSSION.
"THAT PRINCIPLE HAS SERVED BOTH SIDES WELL AND IN MOST CASES
OF HONG HAS ENSURED THAT THE SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE
WHICH KONG,
IS AFTER ALL WHAT BEING A CIVIL SERVANT IS ALL ABOUT, HAS NOT BEEN AFFECTED.
"IN OUR RECENT DEALINGS WITH BOTH THE DOCTORS AND THE NURSES OVER RECENT WEEKS I BELIEVE THE ADMINISTRATION HAS SHOWN GREAT SINCERITY IN RESPONDING TO THE PROBLEMS WHICH HAVE BEEN RAISED WITH US, HE SAID.
..
SIR DAVID SAID THE SUBSTANTIAL MEASURES EXPLAINED TODAY BY SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE WERE CLEAR EVIDENCE OF GOOD FAITH THE PART OF THE ADMINISTRATION.
THE ON
"WE HAVE EXPLAINED THAT NOT ALL THE PROBLEMS CAN BE TACKLED IN THE SHORT TERM AND I DO NOT THINK IT IS IN ANY WAY HELPFUL FOR IMPOSSIBLE DEADLINES, TWO WEEKS FOR EXAMPLE, TO BE SET BY THE STAFF SIDE FOR US TO COME UP WITH COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS SUCH AS OVERCROWDING."
SURPRISED TO
WAS REPORTED
SIR DAVID SAID AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND HE WAS FIND THE OMELCO STANDING PANEL ON HEALTH SERVICES YESTERDAY AS BEING IN SUPPORT OF INDUSTRIAL ACTION TAKEN BY THE NURSES.
"
'INDUSTRIAL ACTION SHOULD BE A MATTER OF LAST RESORT WHEN NEGOTIATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS HAVE BROKEN DOWN. CLEARLY THIS IS NOT
THE CASE.
"WE HAVE MADE POSITIVE PROPOSALS TO THE DOCTORS AND THE NURSES WHICH WE EXPECTED THEM TO CONSIDER CAREFULLY, WE STAND READY AND WILLING TO CONTINUE DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM, SIR DAVID SAID.
HE SAID INDUSTRIAL ACTION, HOWEVER CAREFULLY DEVISED, COULD HAVE AN EFFECT UPON THE ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATION OF HOSPITAL SERVICE. INDEED IT WAS INTENDED TO DO JUST THAT.
"THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELARE HAS ANNOUNCED A NEW HIGH-POWERED GROUP TO TAKE UP THE DIALOGUE WITH DOCTORS. TALKS WITH NURSES WILL CONTINUE.
"IN THESE