XN000022-1986-10-15 — Page 38

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1986

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NO INTENTION TO ABDICATE MEDICAL RESPONSIBILITY

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IT WAS NOT PART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION IN SETTING UP A CONSULTANCY TO ABDICATE ITS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROVISION OF MEDICAL SERVICES TO THE POPULATION AS A WHOLE, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

WINDING UP THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE CONSULTANTS' REPORT ON THE DELIVERY OF MEDICAL SERVICES IN HOSPITALS, HE SAID THE PROPOSED HOSPITAL AUTHORITY, AS RECOMMENDED BY THE REPORT, SHOULD BE FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE CONTINUED PROVISION OF ADEQUATE HOSPITAL SERVICES, PARTICULARLY FOR DISADVANTAGED PATIENTS.

+THIS IS GOVERNMENT POLICY AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE SO, HE STRESSED.

IN ADDITION, MR CHAMBERS SAID, HE WOULD LIKE TO REPEAT PUBLICLY THE ASSURANCE THAT HAD BEEN GIVEN TO STAFF WORKING IN THE PUBLIC HOSPITAL SYSTEM THAT THERE WOULD BE CONSULTATION ON THE DETAILS OF ANY NEW ARRANGEMENTS WHICH WOULD AFFECT THEIR CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT BEFORE THESE WERE IMPLEMENTED.

+ONCE AGAIN I SHOULD POINT OUT THAT THE CONSULTANTS DID NOT GO INTO DETAILS ABOUT THIS ASPECT OF THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS, + HE SAID, AND WE ARE AT PRESENT EXAMINING SEVERAL DIFFERENT MÉTHODS OF ACHIEVING A GREATER DEGREE OF INTEGRATION.+

THANKING ALL MEMBERS FOR SPEAKING IN THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE AND THEIR EFFORTS IN STIMULATING AND COLLECTING PUBLIC RESPONSES TO THE REPORT, MR CHAMBERS SAID IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO PUBLISH A FULL REPORT ON THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED BY THE PUBLIC ON THE CONSULTANTS' REPORT.

J

+ A TOTAL OF 99 SUBMISSIONS HAS BEEN RECEIVED, INCLUDING THOSE FORWARDED TO ME BY THE STANDING PANEL, HE SAID, ADDING THAT A LARGE PROPORTION OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS MADE HAD BEEN REFLECTED IN THE DEBATE.

SOME MEMBERS HAD SPOKEN ABOUT THE SCOPE OF THE CONSULTANTS' BRIEF AND THE NEED TO CONSIDER NOT JUST HOSPITAL SERVICES, BUT ALSO PRIMARY HEALTH CARE, PREVENTIVE SERVICES INCLUDING HEALTH EDUCATION, COMMUNITY NURSING, AND OTHER ASPECTS OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES.

+WHEN IT WAS DECIDED ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO TO COMMISSION CONSULTANTS TO CARRY OUT THIS REVIEW. IT WAS FELT THAT TO INCLUDE ALL ASPECTS OF THE HEALTH SERVICES WOULD RESULT IN AN ALMOST UNMANAGEABLE BRIEF,+ MR CHAMBERS SAID.

/+AND SINCE