XN000022-1996-03-13 — Page 66

(b)

(c)

53 -

of the criteria adopted by the Government in assessing the demand for such paramedical personnel; and

whether the Government has any comprehensive plan or measures to meet the demand for such paramedical personnel?

Reply:

The reply is as follows:

(a)

There is a general shortage of allied health personnel (the term for paramedical staff preferred by the professionals concerned) including clinical psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, educational psychologists and speech therapists in both the public and subvented sectors.

The Health and Welfare Branch (HWB) has set up a working group to study problems stemming from a shortage in the first three professions mentioned and to propose solutions. A working group has been set up under the Education and Manpower Branch to review the supply and demand situation of speech therapists. The working groups comprise representatives from the relevant professions, non-governmental organisations and government branches and departments. The HWB working group has completed its study on clinical psychologists and reported its findings to a joint meeting of the Legislative Council's Panels on Welfare and Health Services on 8 December 1995. The studies on physiotherapists and occupational therapists are in progress. The working groups aim to finalise proposals on all the professions by this summer.

In addition, a Working Group on the supply and demand situation of Educational Psychologists was set up under the Sub-committee on Education and Personnel of the Rehabilitation Advisory Committee. The Working Group is now finalising its recommendations and will forward them, through the Sub-committee, to the Education Department and the Education and Manpower Branch for consideration and follow- up action.

(b) In assessing the demand for these allied health personnel, the Government takes into consideration shortfalls in existing strength, the anticipated expansion of existing services, the introduction of new services and any essential revisions of manning ratios.