TNAG-1363-FCO40-1809-Hong-Kong-Hansard-reports-and-minutes-of-the-meetings-of-the-1985 — Page 165

Question No. 4

Reply by Dr. the Hon. Rudy Khoo, J.P., Ag. Director of Medical & Health Services, to Question by Dr. the Hon. Henrietta Ip in Legislative Council on 24.7.85

Question:

Would Government consider creating a leave relief pool to provide temporary replacements for nurses who are on maternity leave?

Sir,

Provision is made in the MHD for the temporary replacement

of nurses who go on maternity leave from the leave relief pool.

Out of the present establishment of 9,423 nurses in the

civil service, 7.3% or 642 posts have been created as leave relief

reserve. They are used to replace nurses on all types of leaves,

including maternity leave.

In 1984, 423 nurses took maternity leave. The normal period

of maternity leave being 10 weeks, this require 110 nurses for their

relief. Experience has shown that the leave relief pool is adequate

to provide temporary coverage for such leave. The major part of the

pool provides for the relief of nurses taking other forms of leave,

such as vacation leave.

The Department is keeping the situation under regular review,

and efforts are being made continuously with a view to ensure that the

leave relieve requirements for such a large work-force as the nurses

are adequately met within available resources.

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