XN000022-1986-10-15 — Page 46

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1986

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FIRST STEP TOWARDS HEALTHIER STATE

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THE AUSTRALIAN CONSULTANTS' REPORT IS BUT THE BEGINNING OF EFFORTS TOWARDS A HEALTHIER STATE AND A LOT MORE SHOULD BE DONE IN REVAMPING MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES OTHER THAN HOSPITAL CARE, THE HON PAULINE NG SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE CONSULTANTS' REPORT.

MRS NG COMMENTED ON TWO ASPECTS OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT THE ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND THE ROLE OF NURSING STAFF IN HOSPITALS AND THEIR PROSPECTS.

SHE SAID SHE HAD DOUBTS ABOUT THE JUSTIFICATION TO IMPOSE A FEE IN THE DEPARTMENT FOR SERVICES WHICH SHOULD OTHERWISE BE FREE FOR THE SAKE OF DETERRING SOME WHO WERE REGARDED AS HAVING +ABUSED THE SYSTEM+.

SHE SAID SHE FELT THE ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT SHOULD NOT CHARGE FEES AS IT PROVIDED SHORT-TERM TREATMENT FOR EITHER HOSPITALISATION OR REFERRAL TO CLINICS FOR FOLLOW UP.

ON THE OTHER HAND, MRS NG SUGGESTED THAT THE PROBLEM OF OVER-USE OF THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE LOOKED AT POSITIVELY WITH A VIEW TO SOLVING IT.

SHE POINTED OUT THAT THOSE WHO SUFFERED FROM ILLNESS WENT TO THE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THERE WERE NO ALTERNATIVES AND IT WOULD BE UNFAIR TO ACCUSE THEM OF ABUSING THE SYSTEM.

SHE SUGGESTED THAT THERE SHOULD BE MORE CLINICS FOR THE EVENING, SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS, AND THAT EACH HOSPITAL WITH AN ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT SHOULD HAVE A 24-HOUR CLINIC.

ON THE ROLE OF NURSING STAFF, MRS NG SAID SHE FELT THE MATTER SHOULD BE LOOKED AT POSITIVELY IN CONSIDERING IMPROVEMENTS TO HOSPITAL CARE.

+ THE FACT THAT NURSING STAFF HAVE CLOSE CONTACT WITH PATIENTS IN LOOKING AFTER THEIR DIFFERENT NEEDS MEANS A GOOD UTILISATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THEM IS ESSENTIAL IN INCREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY OF HOSPITALS, SHE SAID.

MRS NG SAID SHE FULLY ENDORSED THE REPORT'S RECOMMENDATION TO STRENGTHEN THE MEDICAL AND NURSING STRUCTURE SO THAT THE NURSING OFFICERS' AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY COULD BE MATCHED OR EVEN EXPANDED.

+EXPANDING THE ROLE OF NURSES INCLUDES NOT ONLY STRENGTHENING THE NURSING STRUCTURE, TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION PROSPECTS, BUT ALSO INCREASING THE PRODUCTIVITY AND STAFF MORALE IN THE NURSING GRADE AND IN THE HOSPITAL AS A WHOLE+, SHE SAID.

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