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Persons without recognised nurses qualifications
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Following is a question by the Hon Michael Ho Mun-ka and a written reply by the Secretary for Health and Welfare, Mrs Katherine Fok, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday);
Question:
In her reply to a written question at the Legislative Council sitting on 8 January this year, the Secretary for Health and Welfare stated that there were about 80 persons without recognised nursing qualifications currently employed in patient care in private hospitals. In this connection, does the Government know:
Reply:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(a)
of the positions held in private hospitals by such persons who are without recognised nursing qualifications, as well as the nature and scope of their work:
whether there are any channels available in these hospitals to enable patients to know distinctly that such persons are neither registered nurses nor enrolled nurses, so that patients can decide whether they will accept the services provided by such persons as well as to ensure that the rights of patients are safeguarded and that the question of professional liabilities can be pursued; and
how the Government monitors the nursing services provided by such persons who are without recognised nursing qualification, so as to ensure the safety of patients?
Persons without recognised nursing qualifications currently employed in patient care in private hospitals hold positions that are designated as clinical assistants, health care assistants or similar titles, depending on the individual institutions. These persons undertake duties such as ward errands, attendance to patient cleanliness, assistance in patient feeding, assistance with patient transfer, bed making, tidying up nursing stations and treatment areas.