WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1988
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TURNING TO CONCERNS EXPRESSED BY NURSING STAFF, MR CHAU SAID: "I WILL DO MY BEST, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DIRECTOR of MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE, IN THE SHORT TERM, ΤΟ IMPROVE THE WORKING CONDITIONS OF NURSING STAFF AND то ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF STAFF WASTAGE.
"THE GOVERNMENT WELCOMES A DIALOGUE WITH NURSING TAIF IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEMS AND TO FIND SOLUTIONS.
"BUT WHILE I SYMPATHISE WITH THE WORRIES AND FRUSTRATIONS FELT BY OUR HOSPITAL STAFF, PARTICULARLY THOSE WORKING IN OVERCROWDED REGIONAL HOSPITALS, IT IS CLEAR THAT THERE ARE NO INSTANT SOLUTIONS.
"I THEREFORE APPEAL TO STAFF TO GIVE NEW INITIATIVES A CHANCE TO WORK AND TO REFRAIN FROM ANY COURSE OF ACTION WHICH MAY AFFECT PATIENT CARE.
MR CHAU SAID THE IMMEDIATE TASK OF THE PROVISIONAL HOSPITAL AUTHORITY WAS TO RECOMMEND THE FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH THE INTEGRATION OF THE SERVICES OF GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS COULD TAKE PLACE.
STRUCTURE
"THIS WILL INVOLVE CONSIDERATION OF A NEW MANAGEMENT WHICH WILL, AMONGST OTHER THINGS, PROVIDE FOR GREATER DEVOLUTION RESPONSIBILITY TO THE REGIONAL LEVEL OF MANAGEMENT, HE SAID.
"
OF
THESE WOULD INVOLVE DEVELOPING COMMON TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE FOR STAFF IN BOTH GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS; NEW FINANCIAL AND MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES TO ENSURE CONSISTENT STANDARDS OF SERVICE IN ALL PUBLIC HOSPITALS; AND ALLOWING SUBVENTED HOSPITALS TO RETAIN THE TRADITIONS AND DEGREE OF MANAGEMENT INDEPENDENCE, HE ADDED.
THE PHA, WHO HAD BEEN FULL CONSULTATION WITH
MR CHAU POINTED OUT THAT MEMBERS OF SELECTED WITH GREAT CARE, WOULD WORK IN REPRESENTATIVES or ALL GRADES OF STAFF CURRENTLY EMPLOYED IN GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS.
"WHERE APPROPRIATE, STAFF MEMBERS WILL BE CO-OPTED ONTO THE WORKING COMMITTEES OF THE PROVISIONAL HOSPITAL AUTHORITY,' HE SAID.
TURNING TO FEES AND CHARGES IN SUBVENTED HOSPITALS, MR CHAU SAID GOVERNMENT POLICY WAS THAT CHARGES IN THESE HOSPITALS SHOULD BE GENERALLY CONSISTENT WITH SIMILAR CHARGFS IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS.
HE SAID WHILE GOVERNMENT FEE LEVELS WERE REGARDED A GUIDELINE FOR SUBVENTED HOSPITALS, THE LATTER WERE INDEPENDENT ORGANISATIONS AND TRADITIONALLY ENJOYED A CERTAIN DEGREE OF AUTONOMY, WITH THE FLEXIBILITY IN SETTING FEES AND CHANGES FOR CERTAIN SERVICES.
PATIENTS
"THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT SUCH PRACTICES HAVE LED TO BRING UNABLE TO AFFORD SERVICES AT SUBVENTED HOSPITALS. IN CASES WHERE PATIENTS CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FERS MAY BE WAIVED OR REDUCED A9 IS THE CASE IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS, MR CHAU SAID.
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