XN000022-1987-06-17 — Page 9

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 1987

"WE FEEL THAT THE MORE CAPABLE ONES SHOULD BE GIVEN THE NECESSARY TRAINING, AND MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO BE PROMOTED DIRECTLY TO OFFICER GRADE UNDER THE NEW SYSTEM."

DR IP SAID THE GROUP HAD LOOKED FURTHER INTO THE OPERATION OF THE EXISTING SERVICE AND OBTAINED FEEDBACK FROM THE FRONT-LINE WORKERS.

IN 1984

SHE SAID THE AMBULANCE-AID MOTORCYCLE (AAMC) LAUNCHED HAD PROVED TO BE EFFECTIVE IN GIVING PROMPT RELIEF TO THE ACCIDENT VICTIMS IN THE REMOTE AREAS, INSPITE OF TRAFFIC CONGESTIONS EN ROUTE.

"WE KNOW THAT THE AAMC SERVICE WILL BE REVIEWED AFTER A YEAR'S TIME. BUT EVEN AT THIS JUNCTURE, THE PUBLIC RESPONSE TO AND CONFIDENCE IN THIS SERVICE IS FAVOURABLE ENOUGH FOR US TO URGE THE ADMINISTRATION TO LOOK INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF INCREASING ITS NUMBER,"

SHE SAID MANY OF THE FEEDBACK ALSO URGED THAT AIR-CONDITIONING SHOULD BE PROVIDED IN THE AMBULANCES, AND THE

WAS PLEASED TO LEARN THAT THIS WAS ALREADY AN ESTABLISHED GOVERNMENT POLICY BUT WOULD LIKE THE PROCESS TO BE SPEEDED UP.

ON STAFF TRAINING, DR IP SAID IN 1979, DUE ΤΟ FINANCIAL STRINGENCY AND LIMITATION ON STAFF RESOURCES, TRAINING WAS REDUCED FROM 14 TO ONLY EIGHT WEEKS.

HOWEVER, THE GROUP WAS PLEASED TO LEARN THAT THE STEERING COMMITTEE ON AMBULANCE SERVICE WHICH OVERSAW THE HORU REPORT RECOMMENDED THAT THE TRAINING OF AMBULANCEMEN SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO 24 WEEKS AND THAT THE MINIMUM TRAINING AMBULANCEMEN RECEIVED WILL BE INCREASED.

"THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL HAS REPEATEDLY STRESSED TO US THE IMPORTANCE OF BETTER AND PROPER TRAINING OF THE AMBULANCEMEN AND THIS RECOMMENDATION SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATION WITHOUT HESITATION, SHE SAID.

THE GROUP ALSO CONSIDERED THE FEASIBILITY OF SETTING UP A SMALL PARAMEDIC TEAM IN HONG KONG TO SERVE REMOTE AREAS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND THAT THE NUMBER OF MOBILE CASUALTY TREATMENT CENTRES (MCTC) SHOULD BE INCREASED FROM ONE TO THREE SUCH THAT ONE BACH WOULD SERVE THE HK, KOWLOON AND THE NT.

ON NEW MEASURES, DR IP SAID THE GROUP WAS CONVINCED THAT TWO WAY DIRECT COMMUNICATION SHOULD BE SET UP BETWEEN THE AMBULANCE AND THE ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT OF THE HOSPITAL AS SUCH DIRECT COMMUNICATION WAS VITAL IN MATTERS OF EMERGENCY.

/THE GROUP