XN000022-1992-08-20 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 1992

GOOD PATIENT CARE IN TUEN MUN HOSPITAL ASSURED

THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID FORD, STRESSED TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT THE STAFF SHORTAGE SITUATION AT TUEN MUN HOSPITAL WAS NOT RESULTING IN ANY ADVERSE EFFECT UPON THE PATIENTS AT ALL.

SPEAKING то REPORTERS AFTER A VISIT ΤΟ THE HOSPITAL THIS AFTERNOON, SIR DAVID SAID THERE WERE BOUND то BE SOME TEETHING TROUBLES IN THE EARLY MONTHS IN ANY NEW HOSPITAL WHERE SERVICES AND STAFF WERE STILL BEING BUILT UP.

"IT SIMPLY MEANS THAT THE STAFF ARE HAVING TO WORK RATHER HARDER, AND WAS VERY HAPPY TO COMPLIMENT THEM ON THEIR GOOD SPIRITS SOMETIMES UNDER QUITE DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES," HE SAID.

"THIS IS NOT ACROSS THE BOARD, T MIGHT SAY; THERE ARE PARTICULAR STRAINS BECAUSE THE BIRTH RATE IS VERY HIGH IN TUEN MUN, BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND THERE ARE A LOT OF BABIES BEING BORN HERE; THEY'VE HAD TO TAKE OVER SOME EXTRA WARDS AND IT'S THOSE SORT OF THINGS THAT ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO FORESEE IN THE PLANNING STAGES BUT I'M HOPEFUL THAT THOSE WILL BE PUT RIGHT TOO,' HE ADDED.

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"BUT I'VE TAKEN PAINS TO ASK ALL THE DOCTORS AND ALL THE MEDICAL STAFF HERE, AND I'M ASSURED THAT THE PATIENT CARE HERE IS AS GOOD AS IN ANY HOSPITAL ELSEWHERE IN HONG KONG, AND SO THERE IS NO QUESTION OF PATIENTS SUFFERING AS A RESULT OF SOME OF THE STRAIN WHICH IS HAPPENING IN TERMS OF STAFF SHORTAGES, SIR DAVID SAID.

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"WE'VE BEEN ASSURED THAT THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY IS TRYING ΤΟ SORT OUT THE STAFFING SITUATION; THEY'RE SENDING MORE STAFF HERE ALL THE TIME AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT IN A FEW MONTHS' TIME THE SHORTAGES WILL BE ALLEVIATED AND THAT THE STAFF WILL BE ABLE TO WORK A MORE NORMAL ROUTINE," HE SAID.

NO INTENTION TO LEVY DOMESTIC WASTE CHARGE

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO INTENTION AT THIS STAGE TO

FEE FOR THE DISPOSAL OF DOMESTIC WASTES.

INTRODUCE A

COMMENTING ON A PRESS REPORT TODAY (THURSDAY) ON DISPOSAL OF WASTES, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS BRANCH SAID IT WAS MISLEADING TO SAY THAT HOUSEHOLDERS MAY BE HIT WITH A RUBBISH DISPOSAL FEE.

/DOMESTIC WASTES