XN000022-1986-03-27 — Page 12

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THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1986

+WE MUST THEREFORE FINE-TUNE THE LOGISTICS AND SUPERVISION OF COMMUNITY NURSING TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE EFFICIENT,+ SHE SAID.

ON IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT ON THE DELIVERY OF HOSPITAL SERVICES, MISS TAM SAID SHE BELIEVED THAT EACH OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS SHOULD BE ASSESSED ON ITS MERITS.

+THE QUESTION WHETHER WE CAN AFFORD AN INDEPENDENT HOSPITAL AUTHORITY SHOULD NOT BE A STUMBLING BLOCK TO BETTER HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION OR MORE EQUITABLE COST RECOVERY, SHE SAID.

+I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT WE WANT OUR EXPANDED HOSPITAL SERVICES BUT WE TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE LESS WELL OFF. CAN ONLY DO SO IF OUR CHARGES ARE PUT ON A BROADER BASE AND OUR SLICE OF THE BUDGETARY CAKE IS SHARED WISELY AMONG THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED, + SHE ADDED,

DIVERT RESOURCES TO MEET NEW MEDICAL NEEDS

****

THE GOVERNMENT WAS TODAY URGED TO REVIEW EXISTING SOCIAL SERVICES AND SPENDING ON THEM, CUTTING THOSE WHICH NO LONGER SERVE ACUTE NEEDS BECAUSE OF CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES, AND DIVERTING OUR SCARCE RESOURCES TO MEET NEWLY EMERGED NEEDS.

THE CALL CAME FROM DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP DURING THE BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

+SOCIAL SERVICES IN HONG KONG SHOULD NOT EXPAND WITHOUT LIMIT TO ADMINISTER FREE SERVICES TO THE DEMANDING AND EVER GROWING NEEDS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC, INCLUDING THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD TO CONTRIBUTE.

+THERE IS A LOT TO BE SAID ABOUT STREAMLINING OUR SERVICES WITH THE VIEW TO IMPROVING THEIR QUALITY, BUT THERE IS NO REASON WHY, WHEN DOING SO, OUR GOVERNMENT SHOULD FEEL HESITANT TO GENTLY INTRODUCE SOME CHARGES, SHE SAID.

DR IP SAID SHE FOUND THE DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT COMMENDABLE AS IT HAD RIGHTLY PLACED EMPHASIS ON THE HANDICAPPED AND ON THE AGED.

SHE SAID IT WAS ENCOURAGING THAT THIS YEAR'S PROVISION FOR THE HANDICAPPED HAD INCREASED BY 4.6 PER CENT COMPARED WITH 1985-86 AND THE LONG AWAITED INCREASE OF SHELTERED WORKSHOPS AND WORK ACTIVITY CENTRE PLACES WOULD NOW TAKE PLACE.

SHE HOPED THAT THE TAXI VOUCHER SCHEME FOR PEOPLE USING WHEELCHAIRS WOULD BE REALISED SOON.

/AS FOR