XN000022-1974-08-09 — Page 6

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 1974

MEDICAL SERVICE NOT AS BAD AS MADE OUT TO BE

SAYS URBAN COUNCILLOR *******

URBAN COUNCILLOR PETER C.K. CHAN SAID TODAY THAT HE HAD RECEIVED NOTHING BUT THE KINDEST AND MOST CONSIDERATE SERVICE+ WHILE A PATIENT RECENTLY IN THE GENERAL WARD OF THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL.

HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S SEVENTH SEMINAR ON PUBLIC RELATIONS, AND THE THIRD FOR THE NURSING GRADES, AT THE CASTLE PEAK HOSPITAL.

AN AUDIENCE OF MORE THAN 140 NURSES, HOSTLY PSYCHIATRIC NURSES, HEARD HIM SAY THAT +ANY INSTITUTION WITH STAFF HAVING CONTACT WITH THE PUBLIC WILL FOREVER BE IN A POSITION TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS, BUT THE POSITION IS NORMAL.+

HE EXPLAINED THAT WHILE HE COULD HAVE GONE TO A

PRIVATE WARD, HE DELIBERATELY CHOSE THE GENERAL WARD, +NOT ONLY TO BE CURED, BUT ALSO TO LEARN.+

HIS EXPERIENCE SHOWED THAT WHILE THERE WERE FAILINGS IN THE SERVICE, THE WHOLE WAS INFINITELY BETTER THAN ITS PARTS, AND NO RATIONAL PERSON COULD DENY THE TRIBUTE DUE TO THE STAFF OF HOSPITALS NOW FAR MORE OVERCROWDED THAN THEY HAD EVER INTENDED TO BE.

MR. CHAN URGED THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO RECONSIDER REVISING THE EARLY DINNER HOUR FOR PATIENTS IN THE GENERAL WARDS, BECAUSE THE EVENING MEAL AT 4 P.M. WAS TOO EARLY, AND. EXTENDING THE VISITING PER 100 BECAUSE ONE HOUR IN THE AFTERNOON WAS NOT ENOUGH.

+BUT I HAVE BEEN PERSONALLY THROUGH THE MILL, HE TOLD THE AUDIENCE, +AND I KNOW THAT THE COMPLAINTS WHICH MADE THE HEADLINES ARE FREQUENTLY TRIVIAL, AND UNDESERVING OF THE EMPHASIS PLACED ON THEM.+

HE GAVE THE NURSES THIS ADVICE: +DON'T SHRUG YOUR SHOULDERS WHEN PEOPLE COMPLAIN OF BEING PLACED IN CAMP BEDS IN CORRIDORS BY SAYING 'THIS IS INEVITABLE'. EXPLAIN THE INEVITABILITY, PROMISE THEM A TRANSFER IN A FEW HOURS. DO ANY THING, SAY ANYTHING, BUT END THIS KIND OF CONFRONTATION ON A KINDER NOTE. THE RESULTS WILL BE WORTH EVERY EFFORT YOU CAN MAKE.+

A SECOND GUEST SPEAKER WAS MR. AUGUSTINE KAM CHUI, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HOME AFFAIRS (SPECIAL DUTIES), WHO DEFINED THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THE SPHERE OF ADMINISTRATION.

MR. CHUI SAID NO RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT IN THE WORLD COULD THINK OF MANAGEMENT EXCEPT IN TERMS OF THE BEST GOOD FOR THE GREATEST NUMBER. THIS IMPLIED THE ANTAGONISM OF CERTAIN MINORITY GROUPS, BUT NO GOVERNMENT ANYWHERE COULD HOPE TO ACHIEVE UNIVERSAL POPULARITY, AND THEN MAINTAIN IT, FOR ANY STRETCH OF TIME.

/HE ASSURED .****