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Following is a question by the Dr Hon Kwok Ka-ki and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (May 16):
Question:
It has been reported that the results of the latest Hospital Authority's staff opinion survey reveal that doctors and nurses in the New Territories West Cluster (NTWC), with Tuen Mun Hospital as the leading hospital, are most discontented with their present work. Some doctors of Tuen Mun Hospital have relayed to me that there is serious shortage of manpower in the hospitals under NTWC. According to Government information, the ratio of doctors per 1 000 population in NTWC has been lower than that of most other clusters for four consecutive years. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council of the respective numbers of doctors in service, departed from and newly recruited to work in Tuen Mun Hospital in each of the past five financial years, broken down by ranks and departments, including the general/family medicine out-patient service and various specialties?
Reply:
Madam President,
The number of doctors in Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH) has been increasing in the past five financial years, from 399 in 2002-03 to 518 in 2006-07. The number of doctors in active service, left the service and newly recruited at TMH in each of the past five financial years are shown in Annex 1. The total number of doctors by ranks in various clinical departments for the same period is shown in Annex 2.
The New Territories West Cluster (NTWC) attaches great importance to the workload and morale of its staff. The NTWC plans to increase manpower by more than 5% in 2007-08, including recruitment of some 80 medical officers. The additional manpower, apart from enabling improvement of hospital services, would also relieve workload of frontline staff, as well as enhancing promotion prospects of existing staff. In addition, a designated Working Group has been set up under the NTWC to gauge and follow-up on the concerns of staff of different grades. The Working Group will put forward specific recommendations to the management to ensure that staff's concerns are duly addressed. The above initiatives will enhance the working environment of the staff and at the same time improve their morale.
Ends/Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Issued at HKT 14:36
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