XN000022-1994-07-06 — Page 30

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 1994

NO CHANGE IN SCOPE OF AMBULANCE SERVICES

THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY HAS PROVIDED THE SAME SCOPE AND LEVEL OF NON-EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICES OFFERED PREVIOUSLY BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, SHELLEY LAU, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN

MRS

MRS

THE

HER WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MICHAEL HO, LAU SAID CURRENTLY ABOUT 475 ELDERLY PATIENTS WERE MAKING USE OF NON-EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE EACH WEEK TO ATTEND TREATMENT AT GERIATRIC DAY HOSPITALS.

THEY INCLUDE PATIENTS WITH MOBILITY PROBLEMS.

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AND

"

'THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY WILL MONITOR THE SITUATION CLOSELY CONSIDER FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS TO THE EXISTING SERVICE AS NECESSARY, SHE ADDED.

THE

NO REGISTRATION OF NURSING HOMES REJECTED

DIRECTOR OF HEALTH HAS REFUSED NO APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF PRIVATE HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES AND MATERNITY HOMES SINCE ASSUMING THE RESPONSIBILITY IN DECEMBER 1991.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS SHELLEY LAU, IN HER WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MICHAEL HO IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MRS LAU SAID IN DETERMINING THE APPROPRIATENESS OF NURSING LEVELS IN THESE INSTITUTIONS, THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH WOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE NATURE AND SCOPE OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED, THE DEPENDENCY LEVEL OF THE PATIENTS, THE CASE MIX AND THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS SERVED.

"PRIVATE HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES AND MATERNITY HOMES APPLYING FOR REGISTRATION WILL BE ADVISED ON THE OPTIMAL LEVEL OF NURSING STAFF REQUIRED FOR PROVIDING SERVICES TO AN ACCEPTABLE PROFESSIONAL STANDARD AND MAY BE REQUIRED TO RECTIFY THEIR NURSING MANPOWER LEVELS," SHE SAID.

+

"ONLY WHEN THE INSTITUTION DOES NOT COMPLY WOULD THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH CONSIDER REFUSING ITS APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION, SHE ADDED.

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