XN000022-1986-10-15 — Page 56

WEDNESDAY,

OCTOBER 15, 1986

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MORE DETAILED STUDIES REQUIRED

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THE PROPOSAL TO SET UP A HOSPITAL AUTHORITY DESERVES MORE DETAILED STUDIES AND CONSIDERATION BEFORE A DECISION ON IT IS MADE, THE HON TAI CHIN-WAH SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING IN THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE REPORT ON THE DELIVERY OF MEDICAL SERVICES IN HOSPITALS, MR TAI SAID THAT IN VIEW OF THE LARGE SUM OF MONEY AND THE DRASTIC CHANGE INVOLVED, CAREFUL CONSIDERATION MUST BE GIVEN TO SEE WHETHER THE RESULTANT BENEFITS IN TERMS OF IMPROVED EFFICIENCY AND BETTER USAGE OF FACILITIES WOULD OUTWEIGH THE COSTS INVOLVED.

+IN MY OPINION, EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE PROVISION OF MEDICAL SERVICES SHOULD BEGIN AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE WITHOUT NECESSARILY WAITING FOR THE SETTING UP OF AN INDEPENDENT AUTHORITY,+ HE SAID.

+IN FACT, MANY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE EXISTING ESTABLISHMENT.+

MR TAI SAID ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER SUPPORT STAFF SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED TO RELIEVE THE WORKLOAD FACING THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF. HE ADDED THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF OBSERVATION WARDS ADJACENT TO THE ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS AND MORE TRANSFERS OF PATIENTS FROM ACUTE WARDS TO CONVALESCENT WARDS WOULD EASE OVERCROWDING IN HOSPITALS. THIS COULD BE DONE WITHOUT RADICAL CHANGE TO THE PRESENT SYSTEM.

HE EXPRESSED RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE PROPOSAL TO CHARGE PATIENTS FOR ATTENDANCE AT ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS AS A MEANS TO PREVENT ABUSE.

+IT IS FAIR, THOUGH, TO CHARGE A FEE AT A LEVEL AFFORDABLE BY AN AVERAGE CITIZEN AS A MEANS TO RECOVER PART OF THE COSTS OF THE SERVICE,+ HE SAID.

ON THE PROPOSAL TO INTRODUCE B-CLASS BEDS FOR THOSE WHO PREFERRED TO PAY MORE FOR BETTER SERVICES AND THE POSSIBILITY OF INTRODUCING A HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME, MR TAI SAID THESE MATTERS SHOULD BE EXPLORED FURTHER.

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