TNAG-1619-FCO40-2228-Executive-Council-of-Hong-Kong-memoranda-and-minutes-of-meet-1987 — Page 94

For discussion

on 14 April 1987

CONFIDENTIAL

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XCC (87)62 22 Copy No...?.

MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Hab on/9

187

REVIEW OF HONG KONG AMBULANCE SERVICE

A

B

Introduction

The purpose of this

this memorandum is to seek Members' advice as to whether the recommendations put forward by Consultants who were engaged to study the Ambulance Service in Hong Kong, should be adopted

be adopted in principle, subject to the availability of resources and the acceptance of the financial and staffing implications.

Background

2

An Ambulance Services Review Steering Group (ASRSG) was established in September 1984 comprising representatives from Security Branch, Finance Branch, Fire Services Department, Health & Welfare Branch and Medical & Health Department. The

· terms of reference of the Steering Group are at Annex A. The role of the Steering Group is to review various aspects of the Ambulance Command of the Fire Services Department and to make recommendations to the Government in relation to the Ambulance Service. In 1985, the Steering Group considered chat an independent consultancy should be engaged to carry out an operational research study and make recommendations on the ambulance service. The study was initiated not because of any unacceptable service standards or operational inefficency, but with a view to determining in detail the operational deployments and future developments for ensuring optimum use of resources with a higher standard of service.

3

The Health Operational Research Unit (HORU), a UK consultancy firm with extensive world-wide research experience in ambulance services, was engaged in October 1985 to carry out a one-year study under the guidance of the ASRSG. The Final Report at Annex B, which summarises and adds to two detailed studies of the emergency service and the routine service provided by the Ambulance Service, was completed in November 1986. The terms of reference of the Consultants are set out in

Chapter 2. Ten major recommendations are put forward by the Consultants in Chapter 11. At Annex C is an extract of the conclusions reached by

on the Consultants' recommendations.

the

ASRSG

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CONFIDENTIAL