HA increases special honorarium for frontline staff
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The Hospital Authority Board today (January 18) endorsed a one-off 10 per cent increase in the rate of the Special Honorarium Scheme (SHS) allowance with effect from January 28 to encourage staff members in different disciplines including doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, clerical and supporting staff to augment the manpower resources during the winter surge.
The HA Chief Manager (Cluster Performance), Dr Ian Cheung, said public hospitals have been facing a huge service demand since January began. "In recent weeks, the accident and emergency department (AED) attendances have been consistently over 6,000, while the daily inpatient admissions to medical wards via AEDs are always above 1,000. Over 1,700 inpatient beds have now been added in public hospitals to meet the service demand."
Dr Cheung anticipated that the service demand pressure will increase further, and that public hospitals will be even more congested after the Chinese New Year holiday. He said, "The HA has been actively recruiting more part-time and temporary staff to alleviate the work pressure of frontline staff. We hope that the increase in the SHS allowance will encourage more staff to join hands in meeting the challenge of this winter surge.
"This adjustment of the rate of SHS allowance will take effect for 12 weeks and may be further extended subject to the service situation in public hospitals. I would like to take the opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks again to frontline colleagues for their dedication and commitment in taking care of our patients."
Ends/Friday, January 18, 2019
Issued at HKT 14:01
Issued at HKT 14:01
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