XN000022-1991-12-03 — Page 5

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1991

HOSPITAL AUTHORITY IS THE FOUNDATION

FOR BETTER HOSPITAL CARE: GOVERNOR

THE

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY IS THE FOUNDATION THE NEXT STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE STANDARDS OF CARE IN HOSPITALS, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

FOR

ADDRESSING THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY FOR THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY, THE GOVERNOR SAID THE COMMUNITY LOOKED TO THE AUTHORITY TO BRING ABOUT MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE HOSPITAL SERVICES.

"I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE DEDICATED MEN AND WOMEN WHOSE IT IS TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES WILL RESPOND TO THIS, HE

VOCATION SAID.

SIR DAVID SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S AIM MUST BE ΤΟ GIVE THE COMMUNITY A CARING, RESPONSIVE AND EFFICIENT HOSPITAL SERVICE IT NEEDED.

"BUT

THE COST OF HEALTH CARE IS RISING ALL THE TIME. THIS IS NOT SIMPLY A MATTER OF INFLATION. IT REFLECTS THE FACT THAT MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY AND TECHNIQUES ARE IMPROVING RAPIDLY, SIR DAVID SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT MEDICAL OPTIONS WHICH WERE IMPOSSIBLE A DECADE AGO WERE NOW ALMOST MATTERS OF ROUTINE.

HE CITED THE EXAMPLES THAT ULTRASOUND (ULTRASONOGRAPHY) EXAMINATIONS WERE NOW THE STANDARD TECHNIQUE FOR MONITORING FOETAL DEVELOPMENT AND ENDOSCOPY HAD BECOME AN IMPORTANT DIAGNOSTIC AND SURGICAL TECHNIQUE.

"THESE ARE MAJOR ADVANCES. THEY ARE MUCH TO BE WELCOMED. BUT THEY ARE ALSO EXPENSIVE.

"SO WE NEED TO MAKE THE BEST POSSIBLE USE OF RESOURCES. OTHERWISE WE CANNOT AFFORD THE MODERN MEDICAL TECHNIQUES WE WOULD LIKE TO USE,' HE SAID.

AMONGST OTHER THINGS, THAT MEANT MAXIMISING EFFICIENCY IN THE HOSPITALS AND EFFICIENCY IN HOSPITALS TRANSLATED INTO BETTER CARE FOR PATIENTS, THE GOVERNOR SAID.

HE SAID THE TASK OF THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY WHICH HAD ASSUMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF ALL HONG KONG'S PUBLIC AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS TWO DAYS AGO, WAS OF GREAT SIGNIFICANCE.

"IT COVERS 36 HOSPITALS; ABOUT 37,000 MEMBERS OF STAFF; AN ANNUAL BUDGET OF ABOUT $10 BILLION; AND MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, RESPONSIBILITY FOR CARING FOR 64,000 PATIENTS EVERY YEAR," HE SAID.

THE GOVERNOR SAID THE AUTHORITY HAD BEEN PREPARING FOR THESE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR A YEAR AND THE TAKE-OVER HAD BEEN CAREFULLY PLANNED AND SKILFULLY IMPLEMENTED.

/"BUT THE