XN000022-1990-02-28 — Page 15

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1990

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PHARMACY SERVICE EXTENDED AT TWO HOSPITALS

IN RECOGNITION OF OPERATIONAL

REQUIREMENTS, ADDITIONAL POSTS

IN THE PHARMACY SERVICE HAD BEEN APPROVED AT QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL AND PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH

AND WELFARE, THE HON ELIZABETH WONG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON RONALD CHOW, MRS WONG ALSO SAID THE HOURS OF OPERATION OF THE PHARMACY SERVICE AT QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL AND PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL HAD BEEN EXTENDED.

THE HOURS OF OPERATION HAD BEEN EXTENDED FROM 9 AM AM

1 PM TO 9 AM 10 PM ON MONDAYS TO FRIDAYS, AND FROM 9 AM - ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.

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5 PM TO

9

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5 PM

ON SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS, THE HOURS OF OPERATION REMAINED FROM 9 AM TO 5 PM.

MRS WONG SAID THE ADDITIONAL POSTS IN QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL WERE: ONE PHARMACIST, TWO SENIOR DISPENSERS, FIVE DISPENSERS AND ONE WORKMAN II. THE ADDITIONAL POSTS IN PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL WERE: ONE PHARMACIST, TWO SENIOR DISPENSERS, FOUR DISPENSERS AND ONE WORKMAN II.

"REPRESENTATIVES OF PHARMACEUTICAL STAFF WERE CONSULTED ON THE HOSPITAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT'S PLANS, INCLUDING THE ADDITIONAL MANPOWER REQUIREMENTS, PRIOR TO IMPLEMENTATION, SHE SAID.

H

MRS WONG SAID THAT ON ACCOUNT OF A GENERAL SHORTAGE OF DISPENSING STAFF IN THE DEPARTMENT, IT HAD BEEN AGREED WITH THE STAFF ASSOCIATIONS THAT THE DISPENSERS IN THESE TWO HOSPITALS SHOULD CONTINUE TO UNDERTAKE PAID OVERTIME WORK ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS TO COVER THE EXTENDED HOURS.

"THIS ARRANGEMENT HAS ALLOWED STAFF TO BE REDEPLOYED TO FILL VACANCIES IN OTHER IMPORTANT AREAS OF SERVICE.

г

GRADUALLY

SHE SAID.

REDUCED AS

"IT IS HOPED THAT OVERTIME WORK WILL BE IMPROVEMENTS ARE MADE TO OVERALL STAFFING LEVELS,

MRS WONG POINTED OUT THAT APART FROM THE REGULAR SUPERVISION BY FIELD SUPERVISORS, AN OPERATIONAL WORKING GROUP WAS SET UP IN MAY LAST YEAR SPECIFICALLY TO MONITOR THE SCHEME WITH THE OBJECT OF MAINTAINING AN EFFICIENT SERVICE, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME GUARDING AGAINST UNDUE STAFF FATIGUE.

"TO ENSURE CONTINUITY OF SERVICE TO PATIENTS, A DUTY ROSTER FOR DISPENSERS HAS BEEN AGREED WITH STAFF IN THE HOSPITALS CONCERNED.

/"THIS ROSTER