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WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1992
URGENT CASES GIVEN PRIORITY AT CLINICS
* *
ARRANGEMENTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO FACILITATE PRIORITY TREATMENT OF URGENT CASES AT GENERAL OUT- PATIENT CLINICS, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, DR S.H. LEE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
* THE NURSING OFFICERS AND MEDICAL OFFICERS IN-CHARGE HAVE FLEXIBILITY TO EXERCISE THEIR DISCRETION TO GRANT SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS FOR SUCH CASES," HE SAID.
"AS REGARDS SPECIALIST CLINICS AND THE ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF HOSPITAL AUTHORITY, PROFESSIONAL STAFF WILL SCREEN PATIENTS ΤΟ ASSESS THE SEVERITY OF THEIR INJURY OR ILLNESS AND ACCORD THEM WITH PRIORITY TREATMENT WHERE APPROPRIATE.
LEE
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ZACHARY WONG WAI-YIN, DR SAID THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAD A TOTAL ESTABLISHMENT OF 463 DOCTOR POSTS AND 1,247 NURSING POSTS WITH VACANCIES OF 17 AND 84 RESPECTIVELY AS AT MAY 1 THIS YEAR.
AS FOR HOSPITAL AUTHORITY, THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 2,385 DOCTOR AND 16,809 NURSING POSTS WITH VACANCIES OF 121 AND 1,328 RESPECTIVELY.
POSTS
TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM OF SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS AND NURSES, THE GOVERNMENT HAS MADE STRENUOUS EFFORTS IN THE PAST FEW YEARS TO IMPROVE THE EMPLOYMENT TERMS, CAREER DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, WORKING CONDITION, PROFESSIONAL STATUS AND JOB SATISFACTION OF DOCTORS AND NURSES, DR LEE SAID.
MEASURES INTRODUCED FOR DOCTORS INCLUDE REVISION OF SALARY STRUCTURE, ENHANCEMENT ΤΟ CAREER PROSPECTS, HONORARIUM FOR LONG WORKING HOURS AND BETTER MANNING OF CLINICAL UNITS, HE SAID.
MEASURES FOR NURSES INCLUDE REVISION OF PAY SCALE, IMPROVED CAREER PROSPECTS AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, RESIDENTIAL ALLOWANCE FOR STUDENT NURSES, INTENSIFIED RECRUITMENT DRIVE, OVERTIME ALLOWANCE FOR REGISTERED NURSES AND PART-TIME NURSES SCHEME.
ALSO INCLUDED ARE INTRODUCTION OF WARD STEWARDS AND CLINIC ASSISTANTS AND GREATER USE OF CHINESE AS MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION FOR STUDENT NURSES, HE SAID.
"IN THE LONG TERM, WE INTEND ΤΟ BUILD ON THE EXISTING FOUNDATION AND EXPLORE FURTHER WAYS TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN DOCTORS AND NURSES, DR LEE SAID.
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"VARIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE WORKING PARTY ON PRIMARY HEALTH CARE, SUCH AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF FAMILY MEDICINE IN GENERAL OUT-PATIENT CLINICS AND THE CONCEPT OF HEALTH NURSE, WILL ALSO HELP ENHANCE THE PROFESSIONALISM AND STATUS OF NURSES."
/IN ADDITION