XN000022-1992-05-20 — Page 32

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 1992

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OVERTIME CONCEPT DIFFICULT TO APPLY ON MEDICAL INTERNS

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IT IS DIFFICULT TO APPLY THE CONCEPT OF OVERTIME ON HOSPITAL INTERNS GIVEN THE NEED ΤΟ PROVIDE THEM WITH GOOD EXPOSURE AND PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, S.H. LEE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

DR

THE

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ANDREW WONG, DR LEE SAID WORK SCHEDULE OF INTERNS WAS DRAWN UP BY THEIR HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND TRAINING NEEDS.

"APART FROM SCHEDULED DUTIES WITHIN OFFICE HOURS SUCH OUTPATIENT CLINICS AND WARD ROUNDS, THEY ARE ALSO REQUIRED ΤΟ BE CALL IN THE HOSPITAL TO CATER FOR THE NEEDS OF PATIENTS, HE SAID.

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AS

ON

THE

"ACCOMMODATION IS PROVIDED TO THEM FOR THIS PURPOSE BUT FREQUENCY OF SUCH ON-CALL DUTIES WILL VARY BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL HOSPITALS AND DIFFERENT SPECIALTIES WITHIN EACH HOSPITAL ACCORDING THEIR ACTIVITY LEVEL AND CASE MIX."

TO

IN DISCHARGING THEIR DUTIES, DR LEE SAID INTERNS WERE SUPERVISED BY THE DUTY MEDICAL OFFICER, SENIOR MEDICAL OFFICER OR CONSULTANT IN-CHARGE TO ENSURE THAT THE STANDARD OF SERVICE PROVIDED TO PATIENTS WAS MAINTAINED AT ALL TIMES.

THE 12-MONTH INTERNSHIP PERIOD IS NECESSARY то PROVIDE PRACTICAL TRAINING FOR THESE MEDICAL GRADUATES BEFORE THEY BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR FULL REGISTRATION UNDER THE MEDICAL REGISTRATION ORDINANCE.

SUCH TRAINING IS ALSO REGARDED AS A CONTINUATION OF EDUCATION FOR INTERNS WHO ARE SUPERVISED BY THE MEDICAL SCHOOLS OF THE TWO UNIVERSITIES DURING THIS PERIOD.

GOVT MAINTAINS RESTRICTIONS ON WATER CATCHMENT AREAS

THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO INTENTION ΤΟ LIFT RESTRICTIONS ON EXISTING WATER CATCHMENT AREAS IN HONG KONG IN ORDER то PRESERVE VALUABLE SOURCES OF WATER, THE SECRETARY FOR WORKS, MR JAMES BLAKE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HOWARD YOUNG, MR ASSURED THAT THE RESTRICTIONS WERE IMPOSED IN A MANNER NEVERTHELESS DID RESULT IN FAIR AND REASONABLE DIVISION BETWEEN CATCHMENT AND OTHER USES.

BLAKE

THAT

WATER

HE SAID IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT POLICY TO MAINTAIN THE EXISTING WATER CATCHMENT AREAS FOR THE TERRITORY AS THEY

THE PROVIDED GATHERING GROUNDS FOR AN IMPORTANT AND VALUABLE SOURCE OF WATER SUPPLY.

/HE SAID