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The long term solution is clearly to train more Enrolled Nurses. In order to attract more to come forward for training, we need to define more clearly a professional role for nurses. To provide the necessary encouragement, we have allocated funds to enrich the curriculum of nursing schools to cover additional topics on geriatrics, psychiatrics, community health and midwifery, improve the teacher-to-student ratio of nursing schools and increase the number of sponsorships of nurses to attend post-registration training courses.
To resolve or alleviate the problem in the immediate term, we have given subvented C & A Homes the flexibility -
to employ Registered Nurses to hold against the posts of Enrolled Nurses;
to employ part-time Registered Nurses on a daily rate; and
to grant daily pay rates to existing staff in residential care homes who are willing to perform extra shift hours of work.
In addition to this, in July 1994 the Social Welfare Advisory Committee endorsed a recommendation to create a health worker grade for subvented residential care homes. The subvented homes have the option of employing health workers if sufficient Enrolled Nurses cannot be recruited. Currently, there are about 300 health workers who have successfully completed the approved training course jointly organised by Social Welfare Department and the College of Nursing. Apart from continuing the joint training programme with the College of Nursing, Social Welfare Department is also considering with other professional bodies the organisation of more training courses in the coming two years to meet nursing requirements both in subvented and private homes for the elderly. I will also examine the shortfall in Enrolled Nurses in the welfare sector with the relevant government departments to make recommendations for any additional measures which can be taken to address, the problem.
End/Wednesday, May 10, 1995