9.12 The UPGC advised that, subject to the availability of architectural staff and a site for the teaching hospital by late 1976 or early 1977, three years for building and one for com- missioning would enable the hospital to receive clinical students in 1980 or 1981 and these would graduate three years later. It may not prove possible to observe this timetable but, in view of the undoubted need for additional doctors, action will be put in hand as soon as circumstances permit to develop the second medical school at CUHK and the teaching hospital at Sha Tin.
CHAPTER 10
NURSE REQUIREMENTS
10.1 The MDAC forecast a requirement of 6,510 nurses in the Government service to staff existing and proposed institu- tions (Appendix 5 of their Report). As the MDAC projections of supply showed an expected nursing strength of 6,500 by 1982, it would appear that a sufficient supply might be expected for the projects proposed. But this forecast included all ranks of registered general and psychiatric nurses, midwives, health visitors, nursing auxiliaries and student nurses. Furthermore, no allowance was made for the numbers required for administration or casualty or for other areas including family planning, community nursing, or the need to carry forward improved in-service training. The introduction of these factors and a careful examination of the proposed planning ratios have led to a revised assessment of the need for nurses which also takes into account the nurses required for operational relief.
10.2 On the completion of the projects identified in paragraph 9.5 the additional requirement for general nurses is expected to be 1,700. At that time it is estimated that the Medical and Health Department will need an establishment of some 5,500 general nurses. With the two existing general nurse training schools con- tinuing to operate to full capacity there is likely then to be a shortfall of some 600 general nurses.
10.3 This shortfall could be met by providing a new school with an annual intake of 150 student nurses. It could be met more quickly by increasing the annual intakes, possibly to 210 or 300.
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In this way the schools would be able to produce additional nurses for further projects then at the planning stage and other expansions of medical and health services. With the higher level of output, consideration could also be given to affording higher priority to the development of a community nursing service, in-service training for the department, and training assistance towards the Government-assisted sector. In the light of these circumstances, it is proposed that this third nurse training school should be planned to take up to 300 per annum, but that the initial intake should be limited to 210 per annum.
10.4 In addition to the proposals to increase the supply of nurses, the MDAC also proposed measures to improve recruit- ment, and to reduce the increasing rate of wastage. They proposed the relaxation of the mandatory requirement for nurse training of two science subjects and suggested the award of incremental credit for approved post-registration qualifications and for ap- proved past experience. The question of relaxing the mandatory requirement of two science subjects for student nurses has been considered by a nursing adviser from the United Kingdom, who came to Hong Kong to review various aspects of the training of student nurses. The report on this review should be available within a few months.
10.5 The award of incremental credit for approved past experience is agreed. The question of incremental credit for post- registration qualification is being pursued separately and is expected to be the subject of an early announcement.
para-
10.6 The MDAC concluded that additional training capacity Psychiatric for psychiatric nurses was not called for at this stage. However, nurses and further requirements for these nurses will be considered within medical the Medical and Health Department and, if necessary, brought staff. forward for early review by the MDAC. At the same time, the development and expansion of medical and health services pro- posed in this White Paper will necessarily increase requirements for para-medical personnel of all kinds. Training facilities are available for radiographers, physiotherapists and medical labora- tory technicians but not for some other groups such as pharma- cists and occupational therapists. The MDAC will be asked to consider the best means of meeting these requirements, especially of the latter category, at its first review.
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