There are manpower shortages in different industries in Hong Kong, which even affects people's livelihood.
It is understood that the Hospital Authority is planning to introduce foreign workers to engage in non-medical professional work. The task force within the bureau will gradually apply to the Labor Department in the future. The goal is to import 1,600 people in the Greater Bay Area to work in public hospitals as patient service assistants.
The spokesperson of the Hospital Authority did not directly respond to whether it plans to import foreign workers, saying that it is very concerned about the manpower situation of public hospitals, and "understands the overall shortage of manpower in the medical industry in Hong Kong, and is trying to strengthen recruitment through various channels."
The HA is conducting a review on the salary structure of staff in support grades, ie ward assistants, etc.
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1,200 patient service assistants retire on full-time contracts
It is reported that the Hospital Authority plans to introduce 1,600 foreign workers from the Greater Bay Area to work in public hospitals to fill the vacancies of patient service assistants. The task force will apply to the Labor Department later.
A spokesman for the Hospital Authority said there were currently about 17,000 patient service assistants.
In addition to recruiting on the recruitment platform, each hospital cluster has regular recruitment days and will re-employ suitable personnel through the post-retirement re-employment plan.
As of December 2022, more than 1,200 patient service assistants in the Hospital Authority will continue to serve on full-time contracts after retirement. The Authority has also formulated a series of measures to attract and retain talents.
The spokesman said that he is very concerned about the manpower situation of public hospitals. "Understanding the overall shortage of manpower in the medical industry in Hong Kong, we are trying our best to recruit more staff through various channels."
The spokesperson continued that the Hospital Authority will continue to closely monitor manpower arrangements and improve the working environment for employees. It will also review different measures to support employees, and will continue to introduce more different plans to strengthen recruitment.
▼On March 9, 2022, Queen Elizabeth Hospital transferred non-new crown patients in the hospital▼
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Vice Chairman of the Federation of Labor: Arrangement for Employment of Penny's Bay Quarantine Personnel
Tan Jinlian, a labor member of the LAB and vice-chairman of the Federation of Labor Affairs, also said that she had never heard of the news, but she thought it would be "outrageous" if the news was true, because last week the Penny's Bay isolation facility laid off more than 1,000 workers, and these workers hold a nursing certificate , is definitely suitable to be a ward assistant, that is, there are enough local manpower in the local market to meet the demand. "You ask the servants, they are so stupid, and you don't even ask." She continued, in addition to the Penny's Bay isolation facility, Asia Pacific also has a team Workers who hold a nurse certificate are also qualified to work as ward assistants.
Vice-Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions: Cannot import foreign labor rashly
Lin Weijiang, another labor member of the LAB and vice chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions, said that he has not heard any news that the Hospital Authority intends to import foreign workers through the "Supplementary Labor Scheme".
However, he emphasized that the import of foreign workers should be handled according to the original mechanism, and the LAB should apply in advance to see if local workers can cope.
He continued to point out that the importation of foreign workers should not be rashly proposed due to the shortage of manpower. Instead, the salary increase, local training should be done first, and the local labor market should be fully released. These should be done before considering importing foreign workers.
The HA is conducting a review on the salary structure of staff in support grades, ie ward assistants, etc.
(File photo/photo by Xia Jialang)
The starting salary is about 17,000 and the third level can apply
Looking at the 2021-22 annual report of the Hospital Authority, as of March 31, 2022, the total number of people in the Hospital Authority is 89,812, while others, including nursing support, management/administration and others, are 44,136 people.
According to another statistics released by the Hospital Authority in the same period, the distribution of the 44,136 people is as follows: 3,605 management/administrative staff, 17,893 nursing support staff, and 22,638 other staff.
According to the recruitment website of the Hospital Authority, a job vacancy announcement issued in February this year mentioned that the monthly salary of the second-level patient service assistant (internal medicine) is 18,335 to 22,916 yuan. In addition to performing direct and indirect patient services, they must also assist doctors and Nurses' consultations, health education activities, etc.
Applicants are required to have completed Secondary 5 or equivalent, hold a recognized "Health Service Assistant Training Course" or "Medical Support Worker (Clinical Patient Services)" certificate, and have to complete the training course of the hospital department.
Another vacancy announcement for a triple-A patient service assistant (inpatient service) issued in February this year listed a monthly salary of HK$16,867 to 18,176. The duties include providing clinical personal care services, caring for inpatients Daily life, diet and personal hygiene, etc., also need to assist nurses to perform clinical examination procedures, escort patients, be responsible for cleaning, disinfection and handling chores.
Applicants must have Secondary 3 or equivalent education, and hold a recognized health service assistant or medical support worker (clinical patient service) course certificate, be able to speak fluent Cantonese, write Chinese, read and understand simple English.
Under the epidemic, the turnover rate of doctors reached 6.9%, and the turnover rate of the two departments exceeded 10%. The turnover rate of full-time doctors is 4.6%. It is inferred that the increase in the turnover rate in recent months is related to the new crown pneumonia｜The doctor turnover rate of the Department of Health is high. Last year, the vacancy rate was 11%, and the growth rate was zero. Employment of 25 Overseas Doctors Hospital Authority Doctor Turnover Rate Hit a Decade High Nurses and Support Grade Recruitment Difficulties Affect Services
