XN000022-1974-08-14 — Page 29

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1974

PROMPT ACTION ON +ENFORCED+ HOSPITAL TIPS

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ANY REPORT ON +ENFORCED+ TIPPING IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS IS ALWAYS FULLY INVESTIGATED AND, WHEN APPROPRIATE, REFERRED TO THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION, THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. THE HON. GERALD CHOA, TOLD LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN WHO WANTED TO KNOW WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE TAKING EARLY STEPS TO INVESTIGATE REPORTS OF +ENFORCED+ TIPS BEING PAID BY PATIENTS IN THIRD-CLASS WARDS OF GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS.

DR. CHOA SAID ALL PATIENTS WERE GIVEN A FORM ON ADMISSION TO A GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL STATING THAT NO MEMBER OF THE STAFF IS PERMITTED TO RECEIVE ANY GRATUITY OR PRESENT FROM A PATIENT,

IN ADDITION, A REQUEST FOR A GRATUITY OR A PRESENT MUST BE REPORTED TO THE MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT OF THE HOSPITAL, OR THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES. LARGE NOTICES REAFFIRMING THE DEPARTMENT'S POLICY WERE DISPLAYED IN ALL THE WARDS.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN FOLLOWED UP HIS QUESTION BY ENQUIRING HOW MANY REPORTS OF ENFORCED/TIPPING HAD EZEN TAKEN TO THE ICAC SO FAR.

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DR. CHOA REPLIED THAT A TOTAL OF 13 COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN RECEIVED SINCE JANUARY THIS YEAR, OF WHICH THEE VERE FROM NEWSPAPERS. +SINCE ALL OF THEN ARE ANONYLDUS, NONE OF THEN CAN BE SENT TO THE ICAC,+ HE SAID.

ON THE QUESTION RAISED BY DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG ABOUT THE INTRODUCTION OF +EFFECTIVE FACILITIES+ FOR LODGING COMPLAINTS AT GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS, THE DIRECTOR POINTED OUT THAT SUCH FACILITIES ALREADY DO EXIST.

+ALL HOSPITAL WARDS ARE VISITED REGULARLY BY MEMBERS OF THE MEDICAL AND NURSING STAFF WHO ARE ALWAYS READY TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS FROM PATIENTS,+ HE SAID.

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IN EACH MAJOR HOSPITAL, SUGGESTION BOXES WERE PLACED AT VARIOUS POINTS FOR USE BY THE PUBLIC. THESE WERE OPENED BY THE HOSPITAL SECRETARY AND SUBMITTED TO THE MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT. FROM TIME TO TIME, COMPLAINTS WERE ALSO ADDRESSED TO THE DIRECTOR PERSONALLY, OR TO THE DEPARTMENT'S HEADQUARTERS.

+SHORT OF INVITING PATIENTS OR THEIR RELATIVES TO MAKE COMPLAINTS, IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE WHAT FURTHER STEPS CAN BE TAKEN, DR. CHOA SAID, ADDING THAT COMPLAINTS WERE FULLY INVESTIGATED NO. MATTER AT WHAT ADMINISTRATION LEVEL THEY WERE RECEIVED.

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