Press Releases
SFH on concentration of nitrous oxide, health checks for persons on board Kai Fung No. 2 and recruitment of doctors with limited registration
Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and
Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, after attending a radio programme this morning
(August 22):
Reporter: (On the incident regarding the concentration of nitrous oxide,
also known as "laughing gas", in labour wards of public hospitals.)
Secretary for Food and Health: For the emission gas samples in and around
the labour ward areas of the Prince of Wales Hospital, it was found that the
level of nitrous oxide had exceeded the exposure limit stipulated by the
Labour Department from the occupational health aspect. We are very concerned
about this matter. The hospital itself has already looked into the matter
and introduced certain measures to improve the ventilation system of the
labour ward and the areas around. The hospital has also suspended the use of
nitrous oxide for pain relief during labour for the time-being before a
detailed investigation has been completed. At the Hospital Authority (HA)
level, the HA has established a cross-departmental and cross-clusters
committee to look at the issue. It would firstly conduct assessment on the
environment of labour ward areas in other hospital clusters and then work
out the short-term, intermediate-term and long-term measures to improve the
particular situation.
Reporter: (On health checks for persons on board Kai Fung No. 2.)
Secretary for Food and Health: In fact, once the vessel returned to the
territory of Hong Kong, our Port Health Officer has already visited the
vessel to make sure that the crew members, from the medical prospective, are
healthy.
Reporter: (On the recruitment progress of doctors with limited registration
by the HA)
Secretary for Food and Health: The total number of doctors who will join the
HA through the limited registration is only around 13 to 14. According to my
understanding from the HA, this round of recruitment exercise has been
completed and they are now reviewing the situation of manpower. They will
also take any other additional measures, including recruitment of part-time
doctors, allowing some of the existing doctors to work overtime, and
recruitment of retired doctors to work on a part-time basis, etc. In
addition, a number of newly graduated doctors joined the HA in July. The HA
will look at all these measures and see the effect before considering
whether there is a need for another round of recruitment of doctors with
limited registration.
Ends/Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Issued at HKT 12:33
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