TNAG-1735-FCO40-2448-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 143

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 18 May 1988

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ment available in private hospitals. In any case, the decision to acquire a particular piece of equipment must be a matter of professional judgement in relation to the specific services provided by the hospital in question and straightforward comparison may not be appropriate.

DR. IP: Sir, I have been approached by the cardiologist and cardiac surgeons at the Grantham Hospital who have stated that the staff at the Grantham Hospital are experts in the field of cardiology and cardiac surgery in Hong Kong, but their professional freedom has been constrained by insufficient funding and staffing in the past 10 years. In this respect, I would like to ask the Secretary for Health and Welfare whether the Director of Medical and Health Services, in stating his opinion that the Grantham Hospital is sufficiently well equipped at present to fulfil efficiently its function as an emergency cardiac referral centre, has consulted the professional staff at the Grantham Hospital.

SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE: Sir, I believe that applications from subvented hospitals are made on a regular basis in the context of the estimates exercise each year, and that these are considered by the Medical and Health Department in the light of the representations made by the hospital staff. And I am sure that these are fully taken into account when deciding on the allocation of the funds available for this purpose.

DR. IP: Sir, in reference to the answer given earlier, could the Secretary clarify whether the following equipment will be made available to the Grantham Hospital:

1.

2.

3.

'Colour doppler echocardiography' which the Grantham Hospital has applied for. I understand the Prince of Wales and Queen Elizabeth Hospitals have also applied for this equipment and can it be confirmed that these two hospitals now have this equipment?

'Digital subtraction angiography' which the Kwong Wah Hospital has now acquired, and

Equipment for 'dye dilution' in assessing severity of shunt which is now available in private hospitals?

SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE: Sir, I am afraid my professional knowledge does not extend to the details asked for by Dr. IP. I shall have to consult the director and give her an answer in writing. (See Annex II)

DR. IP: Sir, the last question. Since the Catheterisation Laboratory at the Grantham Hospital performs more cardiac catheterisations per annum than the three Catheterisation Laboratories at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Queen Mary Hospital, and Princess Margaret Hospital put together, would Government con- sider providing the Grantham Hospital with a second laboratory (1) to meet the increasing number of cases, and (2) to serve as a contingency for emergency cases when one laboratory is already in use?