Press Releases

SFH meets paediatrics doctors (with photo)

The Secretary of Food and Health, Dr York Chow, reiterated that the Government would explore every possible means to retain professional strength in public hospitals so as to maintain quality services for the community.

At a meeting with representatives of paediatric services of the public hospitals today (April 21), Dr Chow said the Government fully understood the problem of heavy workloads and shortage of manpower being faced by frontline medical staff of the services concerned.

Dr Chow thanked the frontline medical staff for their dedication in maintaining quality services during this critical moment.

He pointed out that local patients have priority in the use of public hospital facilities and their safety should not be compromised under any circumstances.

"Equally important is that the working condition of our frontline colleagues should be further improved and their strength should not be compromised for whatever reasons," Dr Chow said.

Dr Chow said the Government would continue to devote resources to support medical professionals in the neonatal intensive care units (NICU) and paediatrics specialty at public hospitals.

"To make our quality service sustainable, we need to ensure that there is sufficient professional manpower in the respective services and that frontline colleagues should have sufficient training and promotion prospect on their career paths," Dr Chow said.

Noting that the undue stress on obstetrics and neonatal services as well as paediatrics services was closely related to the influx of mainland pregnant women, Dr Chow said the Government, the Hospital Authority and the private medical sector are now working together for a multi-pronged approach to address the issue.



Ends/Thursday, April 21, 2011
Issued at HKT 17:19

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