WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 1989
7
CLARIFICATION ON SPLIT NEEDED
*
THE SPLITTING UP OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE DEFERRED AS THERE WOULD STILL BE CONFUSION REGARDING THE OPERATIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE AFTER THE RE-ORGANISATION, THE HON RONALD CHOW SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HE SAID HE FORESAW CHAOS, ESPECIALLY IN THE NURSING SERVICE WHICH FORMED A MAJOR PART OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. ANYTHING THAT WENT WRONG WITHIN THIS WOULD INEVITABLY HINDER THE OVERALL RUNNING OF THE SYSTEM.
OF
SPEAKING AGAINST THE RESOLUTION то SPLIT THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT INTO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE DEPARTMENT HOSPITAL SERVICES, MR CHOW SAID HE DID SUPPORT IN PRINCIPLE THE PROPOSED SPLIT, BUT HAD RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION DATE, THAT WAS SET FOR APRIL 1 THIS YEAR.
HE EXPLAINED THAT THE CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENTS ON THE SUBJECT DID NOT PROVIDE CLEAR AND CONCRETE SOLUTIONS TO THE CONFUSION IN THE ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE TWO NEW DEPARTMENTS, ESPECIALLY THE PART RELATED TO NURSING SERVICE.
FURTHER CLARIFICATIONS AND CONSULTATION WERE NECESSARY BEFORE THE SPLIT WAS IMPLEMENTED.
MR CHOW SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S CONSULTATION WITH THE STAFF WAS NOT SATISFACTORY, AND MANY STAFF STILL COMPLAINED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION AND THE EXPLANATIONS GIVEN BY THE ADMINISTRATION WERE CONFUSING.
GIVEN THAT MOST OF THE NURSING STAFF DID NOT HAVE MUCH CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY, THE GOVERNMENT'S INSISTENCE ON SPLITTING THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT FROM APRIL 1 WOULD AGGRAVATE THE SITUATION AND REDUCE STAFF CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY, HE SAID.
SERVICES CANNOT BE DIVIDED
THE PROPOSED
HEALTH
RE-ORGANISATION OF THE MEDICAL AND DEPARTMENT INTO TWO SEPARATE DEPARTMENTS WAS CRITICISED BY DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
DR IP SAID SHE OBJECTED IN PRINCIPLE TO THE RE-ORGANISATION OF THE DEPARTMENT INTO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE HOSPITAL NOT IN SERVICES DEPARTMENT BECAUSE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES COULD REALITY BE DIVIDED.
/SHE ABSTAINED