XN000022-1993-02-24 — Page 15

3

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1993

THAT

HOSPITALS. COUNCIL

OF

THIS TUEN

I WOULD NOW RESPOND TO THE SUGGESTIONS MADE BY SOME MEMBERS NURSING SHORTAGE ALONE HAS UNDULY DELAYED THE COMMISSIONING

THIS IS QUITE MISLEADING. MEMBERS HAVE HEARD IN BEFORE THAT SINCE HOSPITAL PROJECTS OF THE SIZE OF THE MUN HOSPITAL AND THE SHATIN INFIRMARY CATER TO LONG-TERM DEMANDS, THEY ARE DESIGNED TO PROCEED IN PHASES. THE PHASED COMMISSION ENABLES PROPER TESTING OF EQUIPMENT AND BETTER

THE ORGANISATION AND CO-ORDINATION OF SERVICES INCLUDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL. THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY ASSURES ME THAT THE COMMISSIONING OF BOTH PROJECTS IS PROGRESSING ON SCHEDULE.

THESE I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE THAT THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY WILL HAVE SUFFICIENT QUALIFIED STAFF AT ALL LEVELS

PROGRAMMES AND

RENDER

то

MEET THE PLANNED COMMISSIONING SATISFACTORY SERVICE TO THE PATIENTS.

THAT

TO

CHE-HUNG AND

LET ME FURTHER ASSURE MEMBERS IN PARTICULAR DR LEONG WE DO RECOGNISE THE IMPORTANCE OF BOOSTING RECRUITMENT RETENTION OF NURSES. WE HAVE MODIFIED ENTRY REQUIREMENTS, IMPROVED THE SALARY SCALE AND CAREER PROSPECTS, INCREASED THE NUMBER OF NURSING DEGREE PLACES AND INTRODUCED ADDITIONAL CONVERSION PROGRAMMES SERVING

FOR STAFF. MORE RECENTLY, WE INTRODUCED A RESIDENTIAL ALLOWANCE TO STUDENT AND PUPIL NURSES, INTENSIFIED OUR RECRUITMENT EFFORTS ACCEPTED 335 MATURE STUDENT NURSES FOR TRAINING. THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY ALSO ENGAGES 140 PART-TIME NURSES TO PROVIDE AN AVERAGE SERVICE EQUIVALENT то 74 FULL-TIME NURSES. IN ADDITION, IT IMPROVING

IS THE NURSING CAREER PATH, SO THAT NURSES CAN ASPIRE TO TAKE SENIOR POSITIONS IN NURSING MANAGEMENT, AND IN CLINICAL AND EDUCATION STREAMS.

UP

AND

NURSING 470

THE

MANAGEMENT

AS A RESULT OF ALL THESE CONCERTED EFFORTS, THE STAFF IN THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY HAS SHOWN A NET SINCE

TRANSFER

STRENGTH INCREASE OF

OF

IN

DECEMBER

1991. THE WASTAGE RATE HAS BEEN ARRESTED AT 10%. THIS IS FEAT, BUT WE DO NOT INTEND TO REST ON OUR LAURELS,

NO MEAN

MR PRESIDENT, DEVELOPMENTS IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY AND PRACTICE PRESENT CHALLENGES TO NURSING AND DO REQUIRE A RETHINK ABOUT ROLES,

NURSING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS AND CAREER PATHS. I DO AGREE WITH HONOURABLE MEMBERS ON THIS. THEREFORE, APART FROM IMPROVEMENTS IN SALARY STRUCTURE AND CAREER PROSPECTS, WE HAVE INTRODUCED MEASURES RATIONALISE

ΤΟ DUTIES AND TO CONSERVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE. 167 WARD STEWARDS NOW ASSIST IN NON-PROFESSIONAL DUTIES IN HOSPITALS. IN ADDITION, SUITABLE SUPPORTING STAFF ASSIST AND WILL GRADUALLY REPLACE NURSES WORKING IN NURSES QUARTERS AND THE CENTRAL STERILIZED SUPPLIES UNITS. WE WILL CONTINUE WITH THESE EFFORTS AND INTRODUCE OTHER EFFECTIVE

MORE MEASURES AS NECESSARY TO RELIEVE NURSES OF NON-NURSING DUTIES.

SINCE

NURSING EDUCATION. NOW THIS IS A PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN HELPING NURSES MEET NEW DEMANDS IN THEIR PROFESSION. WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S SUPPORT, THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC LAUNCHED THE FIRST NURSING DEGREE COURSE IN 1990/91 WITH AN ANNUAL INTAKE OF 42. THEN, THREE OTHER NURSING DEGREE COURSES HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED AT HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC AND THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY, PROVIDING

94 DEGREE PLACES. BY THE YEAR 1994/95, THE TOTAL INTAKE WILL INCREASE TO 150. THIS REPRESENTS A 250% INCREASE IN THE OF DEGREE PLACES FOR NURSES IN FIVE YEARS. I DON'T THINK STANDING STILL.

ADDITIONAL

THE AN

NUMBER

WE

ARE

IN ADDITION,