XN000022-1987-05-31 — Page 3

ONDA

MAV

1987

TURNING TO THE RESPONSE FROM STAFF GROUPS TOWARDS THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY PROPOSAL, HE SAID THAT STAFF FROM SUBVENTED HOSPITALS WELCOMED THE PROPOSAL BECAUSE THE CONSULTANTS SUGGESTED UPGRADING THE IR CONDITIONS OF SERVICE TO A LEVEL CLOSER TO THOSE OF THE IR COUNTERPARTS IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS.

HOWEVER, MOST OF THE STAFF GROUPS IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS OBJECTED TO HAVING A HOSPITAL AUTHORITY AS THEY WERE AFRAID OF LOSING THEIR CIVIL SERVICE STATUS AND HAVING THEIR CURRENT FRINGE BENEFITS REDUCED.

AS FOR THE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS AND MANAGEMENT OF SUBVENTED ORGANISATIONS, THEY WERE GENERALLY IN FAVOUR OF THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY PROPOSAL IN VIEW OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THE FACILITIES OF THE IR HOSPITALS AS WELL AS THE CONDITIONS OF SERVICE FOR THE IR STAFF. THEY, HOWEVER, WISHED TO SEE THEIR HOSPITALS TO CONTINUE UNDER THE IR CONTROL.

THE SUMMARY REPORT ALSO HIGHLIGHTED THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS DURING AN ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON OCTOBER 15 LAST YEAR.

+ON BALANCE, THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY PROPOSAL WAS SUPPORTED, WITH THE CAUTION THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONTINUE TO BEAR THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PROVIDING SUFFICIENT FUNDING FOR MEDICAL SERVICES.

+MEMBERS ALSO URGED GOVERNMENT TO IMPLEMENT, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT WHICH WOULD BRING ABOUT IMMEDIATE IMPROVEMENTS PENDING FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS ON THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY PROPOSAL, HE SAID.

THEY ALSO CALLED UPON GOVERNMENT TO CONDUCT A FURTHER REVIEW ON PRIMARY HEALTH CARE AND OUT-PATIENT SERVICES, NOTING THAT THESE WERE COMPLEMENTARY TO HOSPITAL SERVICES, + HE ADDED.

THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY PROPOSAL WAS SUPPORTED IN PRINCIPLE BY THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (MDAC) WHICH DISCUSSED THE CONSULTANTS' REPORT AT TWO MEETINGS HELD LATE LAST YEAR.

HOWEVER, THE MDAC RECOMMENDED A CAUTIOUS APPROACH IN IMPLEMENTATION AND URGED GOVERNMENT TO DEVISE A STRUCTURE WHICH COULD PROVIDE THE MAXIMUM DEGREE OF INTEGRATION AT MINIMUM COST AND DISRUPTION.

THE SUMMARY OF PUBLIC OPINION ALSO RECORDED VIEWS EXPRESSED BY VARIOUS SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY ON THE PROPOSALS TO IMPROVE THE INTERNAL ORGANISATION OF THE HOSPITALS, TO INTRODUCE MORE EFFECTIVE COST CONTROL AND TO IMPROVE THE FEE STRUCTURE.

THE SPOKESMAN