XN000022-1994-03-30 — Page 56

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 1994

23

HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS PRAISED FOR HARDWORK

FOR

THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PAID TRIBUTE TO HONG KONG'S HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS THEIR DEDICATION AND HARD WORK.

AND "AT

HEALTH THE PERSONAL LEVEL AND AS SECRETARY FOR BOTH

SYSTEM WORKS, WELFARE, I KNOW HOW HARD EVERYBODY IN OUR HEALTH CARE SHE SAID.

AND THEY

"OUR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS HAVE AN IMPORTANT JOB DO IT WELL. THE COMMUNITY'S NEED FOR QUALITY CARE WILL, I AM SURE,

COMMITMENT ON ALL OUR IN THE PAST, BE MET BY DEDICATION AND TODAY AND IN THE DAYS TO COME.'

"

AS

PART,

IN THE LEGISLATIVE SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE

THE HON MICHAEL HO THAT COUNCIL, MRS WONG REFUTED AN ALLEGATION BY

KNOWLEDGE OF

SHORTAGE MANPOWER

AT SHE HAD DENIED ANY

THE RECENT SPECIAL FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING.

ΤΟ MEET

WHAT SHE ACTUALLY SAID WAS "WE HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDS THE DUTIES WHICH NEED TO BE CARRIED OUT TO DELIVER NURSING CARE TO THE

THE SECRETARY IN HOSPITALS", PATIENTS

STATED, QUOTING VERBATIM REPORT OF THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THAT MEETING.

FROM

THE

"IN OTHER WORDS, THE MONEY IS THERE TO ENGAGE PEOPLE TO PROVIDE QUALITY CARE.

THE NECESSARY

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OVER THE RECENT YEARS, MRS WONG POINTED OUT, THE GOVERNMENT HAD

SCALES

PROSPECTS OF IMPROVED THE

AND CAREER SALARY

HEALTH CARE AND INCREASED SPECIALIST POSTS PROFESSIONALS,

AND EDUCATIONAL

OPPORTUNITIES.

"LAST YEAR, I ALSO SET UP AN INDEPENDENT STUDY GROUP TO THE EVOLVING ROLE OF NURSES, THE FUTURE EDUCATION AND TRAINING AND RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS INVOLVED.

"WE HAVE IDENTIFIED

AND

STUDY

NEEDS

17

THE NEED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL

PLACES

WE HAVE ALSO RESERVED $10 MILLION TRAINING FOR SERVING STAFF.

DEGREE

TO

EXPAND POST-BASIC

MANPOWER

IN ADDITION, THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY IS FINALISING NEW INDICATORS WHICH WILL PROVIDE USEFUL INFORMATION FOR HOSPITAL MANAGERS TO EVALUATE THEIR MANPOWER PROVISION AGAINST THE RANGE OF SERVICES.

IN PARALLEL, PATIENT MANAGEMENT PROTOCOLS PLANS ARE BEING DEVELOPED TO ENSURE THAT QUALITY DELIVERED.

NURSING AND

CARE

PATIENT CARE IS

THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY IS ALSO ADDRESSING PROBLEMS SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL HOSPITALS.

"I KNOW FROM MY RECENT DISCUSSIONS WITH FRONTLINE THESE ARE THE MATTERS CLOSE TO THEIR HEART," MRS WONG SAID.

TO

STAFF THAT

/"I HAVE,