XN000022-1989-03-08 — Page 15

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 1989

13

EXPRESSING FULL SUPPORT FOR THE DOCTORS AND NURSES, MR LEE SAID THAT HE DID NOT SUBSCRIBE TO THE VIEW THAT SINCE THE GRIEVANCES THEY RAISED DATED BACK MORE THAN 10 YEARS THEY SHOULD WAIT PATIENTLY FOR ANOTHER YEAR FOR THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY TO COME UP WITH ITS PROPOSALS FOR REFORM.

I

HOSPITAL, IT PAIN FOR 10 PROBABLY

TO A FOR IF ONE WIT TO APPLY THIS CHOP LOGIC WOULD MEAN THAT A PATIENT WHO HAS BEEN SUFFERING FROM HOURS SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN IMMEDIATE ATTENTION BECAUSE HE CAN BEAR IT FOR ANOTHER POUR OR SO," HE SAID.

LETTER

MR LEE NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT DOCTORS' ASSOCIATION (GDA) HAD

FRESSING PROBLEMS OUTLINED SIX

IN THEIR EARLIER

то THE CONVENER OF THE OMELCO HEALTH SERVICES PANEL.

THESE H

LISEN,

SUPPLY OF AIR-CONDITIONING IN I

ON OUT-PATIENT

SHORTAGE

OF

SERVICES, SHORTAGE IN THE HOSPITAL BEDS, LACK

OF

WASTING

11. WARDS, A 24-HOUR PHARMACY SERVICE IN GOVERNMENT

OTHER THAN REGIONAL

AND HOSPITALS, DOCTORS' TIME BY REQUIRING THEM TO DO CLERICAL WORK.

HOSPITALS

GDA NOT ONLY WERE ALL THESE CRITICISMS FAIR AND VALID, BUT THE

TO HAD ALSO PROPOSED CLEAR AND SIMPLE SOLUTIONS

THESE PROBLEMS, MR

LEE SAID.

MR LEE SAID HE FAILED TO SEE

WHY THESE

WERE PROBLEMS

STILL

THERE.

HE SAID

THAT THE

HAD BEEN

PUBLIC

GOVERNMENT'S PHILOSOPHY IN

HEALTH

CARE OVER THE YEARS

TO PROVIDE MINIMAL SERVICE AT THE WITH THE SYSTEM, THEY MINIMAL COST, AND AS THE PUBLIC HAD GROWN UP HAD ACCEPTED IT AS CHARITY BESTOWED UPON THEM BY THEIR GOVERNMENT.

HONG

"I INSIST THAT THIS PHILOSOPHY MUST NOW BE REJECTED. FOR THIS IS THE AGE OF CONSUMER RIGHTS AND

KONG HAS DEVELOPED INTO A STAGE WHEN ITS PEOPLE ARE ENTITLED TO HAVE THE QUALITY OF IMPROVED, MR LEE SAID.

T

THEIR LIFE

SERVICE COMMENSURATE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ALL

PROVIDE A

WITH THE

OF NEEDS

A MODERN PATIENTS HAVE CERTAIN BASIC

"IT IS THEREFORE THE GOVERNMENT'S UNDOUBTED DUTY TO PUBLIC HEALTH SOCIETY AND TO RIGHTS."

THESE INCLUDED THE RIGHT TO

PROMPT

TREATMENT,

RIGHT THE

TO THE RIGHT ΤΟ SUCH INFORMATION,

CONSIDERATE AND RESPECTFUL CARE, THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY, INFORMATION AND TO MAKE A DECISION IN THE LIGHT OF AND THE RIGHT TO COMPLAIN.

MR LEE SAID THAT HE ACCEPTED THAT OVERHAUL THE WHOLE STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL AUTHORITY NEEDED TIME TO DO SO.

PRESENT

NECESSARY TO THAT THE

IT MIGHT BE

AND HOSPITALS.

FOR SECRETARY

HEALTH

AND

HE ALSO ACCEPTED THAT THE WELFARE HAD BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING ABOUT SOME IMPROVEMENTS.

/MR LEE