WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 1994
23
HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS PRAISED FOR HARDWORK
FOR
THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PAID TRIBUTE TO HONG KONG'S HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS THEIR DEDICATION AND HARD WORK.
AND "AT
HEALTH THE PERSONAL LEVEL AND AS SECRETARY FOR BOTH
SYSTEM WORKS, WELFARE, I KNOW HOW HARD EVERYBODY IN OUR HEALTH CARE SHE SAID.
AND THEY
"OUR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS HAVE AN IMPORTANT JOB DO IT WELL. THE COMMUNITY'S NEED FOR QUALITY CARE WILL, I AM SURE,
COMMITMENT ON ALL OUR IN THE PAST, BE MET BY DEDICATION AND TODAY AND IN THE DAYS TO COME.'
"
AS
PART,
IN THE LEGISLATIVE SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE
THE HON MICHAEL HO THAT COUNCIL, MRS WONG REFUTED AN ALLEGATION BY
KNOWLEDGE OF
SHORTAGE MANPOWER
AT SHE HAD DENIED ANY
THE RECENT SPECIAL FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING.
ΤΟ MEET
WHAT SHE ACTUALLY SAID WAS "WE HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDS THE DUTIES WHICH NEED TO BE CARRIED OUT TO DELIVER NURSING CARE TO THE
THE SECRETARY IN HOSPITALS", PATIENTS
STATED, QUOTING VERBATIM REPORT OF THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THAT MEETING.
FROM
THE
"IN OTHER WORDS, THE MONEY IS THERE TO ENGAGE PEOPLE TO PROVIDE QUALITY CARE.
THE NECESSARY
11
OVER THE RECENT YEARS, MRS WONG POINTED OUT, THE GOVERNMENT HAD
SCALES
PROSPECTS OF IMPROVED THE
AND CAREER SALARY
HEALTH CARE AND INCREASED SPECIALIST POSTS PROFESSIONALS,
AND EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES.
"LAST YEAR, I ALSO SET UP AN INDEPENDENT STUDY GROUP TO THE EVOLVING ROLE OF NURSES, THE FUTURE EDUCATION AND TRAINING AND RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS INVOLVED.
"WE HAVE IDENTIFIED
AND
STUDY
NEEDS
17
THE NEED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
PLACES
WE HAVE ALSO RESERVED $10 MILLION TRAINING FOR SERVING STAFF.
DEGREE
TO
EXPAND POST-BASIC
MANPOWER
IN ADDITION, THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY IS FINALISING NEW INDICATORS WHICH WILL PROVIDE USEFUL INFORMATION FOR HOSPITAL MANAGERS TO EVALUATE THEIR MANPOWER PROVISION AGAINST THE RANGE OF SERVICES.
IN PARALLEL, PATIENT MANAGEMENT PROTOCOLS PLANS ARE BEING DEVELOPED TO ENSURE THAT QUALITY DELIVERED.
NURSING AND
CARE
PATIENT CARE IS
THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY IS ALSO ADDRESSING PROBLEMS SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL HOSPITALS.
"I KNOW FROM MY RECENT DISCUSSIONS WITH FRONTLINE THESE ARE THE MATTERS CLOSE TO THEIR HEART," MRS WONG SAID.
TO
STAFF THAT
/"I HAVE,