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The Steering Committee on Review of Hospital Authority (HA) held its sixth meeting today (September 2) to discuss the mode of service delivery and overall management and control in the HA.
On the mode of service delivery, members noted the series of measures undertaken by the HA in response to the challenges of an ageing population and increasing chronic diseases. These measures included providing risk-stratified care, providing integrated care for high-risk older patients, employing a multidisciplinary team to provide protocol-driven care, enhancing self-management support and mobilising community resources. The HA will also enhance its service capacity through developing and redeveloping hospitals, formulating cluster clinical service plans and developing ambulatory care and sub-acute care.
On overall management and control, members noted that the HA has implemented measures on risk management and internal control. At the same time, the HA would strengthen its efforts in the area concerned along the following direction:
* Moving to an organisation-wide risk management approach;
* Learning from incidents;
* Conducting clinical auditing; and
* Ensuring competent staff including through credentialing.
Members have in general completed discussions on the HA's management and organisation structure, resource management, staffing management, cost-effectiveness, service management and overall management and control. The committee has started the discussion of recommendations in the areas of resource management and staffing management.
Preliminarily, members considered that the HA should in principle adopt the population-based model (with suitable adjustments made with regard to tertiary/quaternary/centralised services and cross-cluster service demand) in allocating internal resources. The resource bidding and allocation process should also be streamlined and made more transparent. Members also considered that the HA Head Office should enhance its central co-ordinating role in staff management with a view to ensuring fairness and consistency in practices among clusters and hospitals. The HA should strengthen the planning and provision of training for staff as well.
The committee will continue to discuss recommendations in other areas under review in future meetings.
Ends/Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:48
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