SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1993
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NEW STUDY GROUP TO REVIEW NURSING ISSUE
THE GOVERNMENT WILL SHORTLY SET UP AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL
STUDY
GROUP TO REVIEW THE OVERALL NURSING ISSUE, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
THE REVIEW WILL BE BASED ON INPUT FROM THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE HEALTH AND MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
"THE STUDY GROUP WILL EXAMINE THE CAREER STRUCTURE OF NURSES, EDUCATION AND TRAINING POLICY, AS WELL AS THE NEED TO REDEFINE THE ROLE OF NURSES AND REALIGN NURSING DUTIES, THE SECRETARY SAID.
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MRS WONG WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF INTERNATIONAL NURSES DAY CONFERENCE WHICH FOCUSES ON THE DELICATE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN "QUALITY, COSTS AND NURSING".
SPEAKING ON THIS THEME, SHE SAID NURSING STAFF HAD A KEY ROLE PLAY IN ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF PATIENT CARE IN A COST-EFFECTIVE MANNER.
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CONSTANT ESCALATION OF MEDICAL COSTS AND RISING CONSUMER EXPECTATIONS ALSO POINT TO THE NEED FOR COST CONTAINMENT IN HEALTH CARE SERVICES, AND A CLOSE INTERFACE BETWEEN USERS AND PROVIDERS OF SERVICE TO OPTIMISE THE USE OF AVAILABLE AND LIMITED RESOURCES.
MRS WONG SAID: "IN THIS REGARD, I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO THE STATEMENT MADE BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION IN 1982 THAT NURSING, AMONG ALL HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONS, HAS THE GREATEST POTENTIAL FOR ENSURING COST-EFFECTIVENESS.
**NURSES ARE REPRESENTED IN EVERY FORM OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES
AND ARE IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH PATIENTS.
"THEY ARE THEREFORE IN THE BEST POSITION TO EVALUATE THE QUALITY AND OUTCOME OF SERVICES RENDERED.
MRS WONG POINTED OUT THAT THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY, RECOGNISING THE VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS WHICH NURSES MADE IN THE CONTEXT OF QUALITY ASSURANCE AND COST CONTAINMENT, HAD SET UP A STEERING COMMITTEE IN MAY LAST YEAR ΤΟ PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE ACTIVITIES.
SINCE AUGUST LAST YEAR, 1,960 NURSES HAVE PARTICIPATED IN TRAINING COURSES ΤΟ PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR THEIR NEW ROLE AS Co- ORDINATORS AND FACILITATORS TO HELP ACHIEVE HIGH QUALITY PATIENT CARE WITH OPTIMAL EFFICIENCY.
IN ADDITION, 18 INSTITUTIONS HAVE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED THEIR OWN QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAMMES.
MRS WONG ALSO SAID HONG KONG'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM NEEDED REFORMS TO MEET CHALLENGES SUCH AS RAPID ADVANCES IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, EMERGENCE OF NEW TREATMENT MODALITIES, GREATER PUBLIC AWARENESS, AN AGEING POPULATION, DEVELOPMENTS ON AMBULATORY CARE AND INTERFACE WITH PRIMARY CARE.
/SHE BELIEVED