XN000022-1985-12-18 — Page 26

NESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1985

SIR JOHN SAID T. AFTER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DISCUSSION IN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL THEE RULES WOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR EARLY IN JANUARY, AND SUBJECT TO HIS APPROVAL, WOULD BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE NEXT MONTH,

+THEY WILL THEN COME INTO FORCE ON FEBRUARY 1, 1986. ANTICIPATE ANY FURTHER DELAY, SIR JOHN ADDED.

I DO NOT

HEALTH SERVICES NOT AFFECTED BY STAFF TURNOVER

*****

THE OVERALL QUALITY OF PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES CAN BE MAINTAINED SATISFACTORILY DESPITE THE PRESENT TURNOVER AND VACANCY RATES OF DOCTORS AND NURSING STAFF IN GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

TOLO

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO THE HON LEE YU-TAI, MR CHAMBERS GAVE THE TURNOVER AND VACANCY RATES AS FOLLOWS:

TURNOVER RATE

VACANCY RATE

1984

END OF 1984

DOCTORS

GOVERNMENT SECTOR

9.4 PER CENT

SUBVENTED SECTOR

23.6 PER CENT

6.5 PER CENT

10.7 PER CENT

NURSING STAFF

GOVERNMENT SECTOR

SUBVENTED SECTOR

3.2 PER CENT

7.7 PER CENT

0.9 PER CENT

7.6 PER CENT

WHILE NOTING THAT THE TURNOVER RATES WERE HIGH, PARTICULARLY FOR DOCTORS IN THE SUBVENTED SECTOR, MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT SINCE THERE WAS A CONSIDERABLE MOVEMENT OF STAFF BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED SECTORS. THE TURNOVER RATE FOR THE TWO SECTORS COMBINED WAS PERHAPS OF GREATER SIGNIFICANCE.

IN 1984 THIS TURNOVER RATE WAS 11 PER CENT FOR DOCTORS AND 3.7 PER CENT FOR NURSES, HE SAID. +THIS COMPARES FAVOURABLY WITH THE SAME TURNOVER RATES IN 1979 WHICH WERE 12.7 PER TENT AND 4.2 PER CENT.+

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