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Health

228 and 59 pupils in its two-year Higher Diploma in General Health and Higher Diploma in Mental Health Nursing programmes respectively. Twenty-two nurses with professional nursing qualifications obtained outside Hong Kong passed the Nursing Council of Hong Kong's licensing examinations and received practising certificates for registered nurses or enrolled

nurses.

Government-subsidised, self-financing undergraduate programmes in nursing offered 860 places in 2018-19.

The Hospital Authority's three-year higher diploma programme provides pre-registration nursing training and enrolled 300 students in 2019. Another 100 pupil nurses were admitted to its two-year pre-enrolment nursing training programme.

The Hospital Authority's Institute of Advanced Nursing Studies strengthens specialty care training for nurses and encourages them to improve professional standards through continuous learning. New graduates undergo simulation training to strengthen their competence and skills in clinical care and medical emergencies. The Hospital Authority also offers scholarships for experienced nurses to attend overseas training and gain international

exposure.

Laboratory Services

Public Health Laboratory Services

The Department of Health's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch conducts laboratory tests on clinical and surveillance specimens and provides clinical diagnostic and public health laboratory services to the public and private sectors for patient care and other public health

purposes.

Laboratories of the branch's Microbiology Division are variously designated by the WHO as a National Influenza Centre, National Poliovirus Laboratory, National Measles Laboratory of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Supranational TB Reference Laboratory, Regional Reference Laboratory for measles and rubella in the Western Pacific Region, Global Influenza A(H5) Reference Laboratory and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Reference Laboratory.

Auxiliary Medical Service

The Auxiliary Medical Service is a government department under the Security Bureau, with 99 civil service positions plus about 6,500 adult volunteers and cadets. It reinforces regular medical and ambulance services during emergencies and provides backup in normal circumstances.

The volunteers come from all walks of life and include doctors, nurses, pharmacists and paramedics. All are qualified Disaster Medical Assistants. The cadets, aged 12 to 17, receive training in discipline and medical skills to develop self-discipline and a sense of responsibility.

The department mobilises members to perform first aid duties during natural disasters, large- scale incidents, public activities and festivals. During weekends and public holidays, its members man first aid stations in country parks and along cycling tracks, with First Aid Bicycle Teams.

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