"Hong Kong 01" received news that Luo Guanzhong, a consultant cardiothoracic surgery consultant at the Children's Hospital, planned to emigrate and has resigned and will leave the Hospital Authority in October this year.
There are only two consultant doctors in the department. Luo Guanzhong is one of them and the head of the department. The other doctors on the team lack experience in performing complex operations. Once Luo Guanzhong leaves his job, it may affect the treatment of patients.
The reporter once called Luo Guanzhong for inquiries. He did not deny the news of his resignation, but for other questions, the reporter contacted the hospital spokesperson.
The Children's Hospital replied that if individual staff leave their jobs, the hospital will actively recruit to fill the vacancies as soon as possible to ensure that the service operation is not affected.
As of the end of last year, there were only 12 consultant doctors in cardiothoracic surgery in Hong Kong.
A cardiothoracic surgeon said that this specialty has a narrow "outfit" and "walking alone will have an impact."
There are only 12 consultant cardiothoracic surgeons in Hong Kong
According to a document from the Special Finance Committee of the Legislative Council, as of December 31, 2020, there are only 47 cardiothoracic surgeons in Hong Kong, of which only 12 are at the level of "consultant doctors", that is, doctors with the highest rank in the specialty.
Luo Guanzhong, a consultant cardiothoracic surgeon at the Children's Hospital (pictured left), has resigned for planning immigrants.
(Photo by Ou Jiale)
"Hong Kong 01" received news that Luo Guanzhong, a consultant cardiothoracic surgeon at the Children's Hospital, planned to emigrate. He has resigned and will leave the Hospital Authority in October this year. Other doctors in this department are relatively young and lack experience in performing complex operations. Cardiac surgery Norwood, Arterial Switch Operation (Arterial Switch Operation), etc. for newborn babies with complex congenital heart disease.
Although there is a part-time consultant doctor in the team, the doctor has only been promoted to the position of consultant doctor for one year. Because of the part-time nature, he will only spend half of his working hours in the Children's Hospital. Once Luo Guanzhong leaves his job, he may suffer from serious heart disease. Of patients receive treatment.
The reporter called Luo Guanzhong for inquiries. He did not deny the news of his resignation. Regarding questions such as who will take over his position in the future, whether he will assist in finding a successor, and whether the lack of senior doctors will affect patient services, he only said, "You ask about returning to the hospital." Got la, I have no comment (comment)."
The reporter inquired with cardiothoracic surgeons in other hospitals. A doctor who did not want to be named frankly said that this specialty has a narrow "outline", "it will affect everyone if you walk alone," and that all patients in the Children's Hospital are underage, only those from Queen Mary Hospital. Doctors have received training related to children's cardiac surgery, and cardiothoracic surgeons in other hospitals also "cannot help."
He said that although there are doctors in Queen Mary Hospital who can handle complex operations, it is still unknown whether they can be deployed to the Children's Hospital. It may not deal with other administrative tasks.
Another cardiothoracic surgeon pointed out that although Queen Mary Hospital has staff to assist the Children's Hospital in the short term, the Chief Medical Officer still needs to study how to train the staff, and urged young doctors to consider joining cardiothoracic surgery.
The Children's Hospital specializes in treating complex pediatric cases in Hong Kong.
(Provided by Hong Kong Children's Hospital)
Children's Hospital: Fill vacancies as soon as possible to ensure that services are not affected
The children’s hospital spokesperson replied that the children’s cardiothoracic surgery service at Queen Mary Hospital was transferred to the Children’s Hospital in December 2020. The team involved has four cardiothoracic and lung surgery specialists, two consultant doctors and two associate consultant doctors. They can handle related operations independently.
Regarding whether one of the consultant doctors is a part-time doctor, the hospital said there is no supplement.
The spokesman also pointed out that the hospital would not disclose the details because the inquiry involved the personal data of individual employees.
The hospital has always attached importance to the service requirements and manpower supply of various specialties, and has made appropriate planning and training arrangements to ensure service quality, patient safety and smooth operation.
If individual staff leave their jobs, the hospital will take various response measures, including active recruitment to fill vacancies as soon as possible to ensure that service operations are not affected.
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