XN000022-1985-02-08 — Page 5

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1985

CONSULTANCY ON THE REVIEW OF THE DELIVERY

OF MEDICAL SERVICES IN HOSPITALS

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THE GOVERNMENT TODAY SIGNED A CONSULTANCY AGREEMENT WITH W.D. SCOTT AND CO. PTY. LTD. UNDER WHICH THE FIRM WILL UNDERTAKE A REVIEW OF THE DELIVERY OF MEDICAL SERVICES IN HONG KONG'S HOSPITALS.

THE REVIEW, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO TAKE ABOUT NINE MONTHS TO COMPLETE, WILL COST AN ESTIMATED $4.49 MILLION.

THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW IS TO EXAMINE THE EXISTING ORGANISATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE HOSPITALS AND IN PARTICULAR TO CONSIDER WHAT CHANGES ARE NEEDED IN THEIR ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE, STAFFING AND INTERNAL ADMINISTRATION TO ENABLE THEM TO COPE EFFECTIVELY WITH CONTINUING EXPANSION IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

THE CONSULTANCY WILL BE GUIDED BY A STEERING COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE AND COMPRISING UNOFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS, DR HARRY S.Y. FANG AND DR HENRIETTA IP; DR CHRISTINA CHOW, CHAIRMAN OF THE CARITAS MEDICAL CENTRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, DR HENRY F.K. LI, WHO IS IN PRIVATE PRACTICE MR L.M. SNEDDON, DIRECTOR OF THE GOVERNMENT'S SENIOR STAFF COURSE THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES AND THE DEPUTY FINANCIAL SECRETARY OR THE IR REPRESENTATIVES; AND THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE (MEDICAL).

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE REVIEW WOULD BE CONDUCTED BY MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS WITH AN ESTABLISHED REPUTATION IN THE HEALTH CARE FIELD AND WITH EXPERIENCE OF CONDUCTING SIMILAR STUDIES OF HOSPITAL SYSTEMS OVERSEAS. W.D. SCOTT AND CO. PTY. LTD. HAD BEEN SELECTED FROM AMONG SEVERAL INTERESTED FIRMS WHICH HAD SUBMITTED PROPOSALS FOR CONDUCTING THE REVIEW.

HE NOTED THAT W.D. SCOTT AND CO. IS AN AUSTRALIAN CONSULTANCY FIRM WITH OFFICES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, UNITED STATES AND THROUGHOUT AUSTRALASIA. THE FIRM HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN THE HEALTH CARE FIELD IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND.

THE CONSULTANCY STUDY WILL BE DIRECTED BY DR RICHARD FREYER, HEAD OF W.D. SCOTT'S HEALTH MANAGEMENT SERVICES. DR FREYER WAS. FORMERLY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL SERVICES OF THE 1 270-BED ROYAL PRINCE ALFRED HOSPITAL IN SYDNEY AND DIRECTOR OF SCIENTIFIC TECHNICAL SERVICES FOR THE NEW SOUTH WALES HEALTH COMMISSION. HE RECENTLY PARTICIPATED IN A CONSULTANCY STUDY ON THE COMPUTERISATION OF THE INFORMATION SYSTEM IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE CONSULTANCY TEAM WILL BE LED BY MR ALEC BAKER, WHO AS PROJECT LEADER AND ORGANISATION CONSULTANT, WILL BE RESPONSIBLE ON A FULL-TIME BASIS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE PROJECT IN HONG KONG. MR BAKER IS A SPECIALIST IN PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANISATION STUDIES AND HAS CONDUCTED STUDIES OF THE LARGEST STATUTORY AUTHORITIES IN AUSTRALIA.

/THE FIRM