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Hong Kong nurse exchange scheme with mainland China has eased pressure on city hospitals, staff say

  • City nurses dismiss concerns that need for mentor for Greater Bay Area nurses has increased their workload
  • First group of nurses from Guangdong arrived in April; 300 expected to take part in scheme over two years

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Nurses from Guangdong province on an exchange programme with Hong Kong public hospitals. Photo: Yik Yeung-man
Nurses from mainland China who have worked in Hong Kong as part of an exchange programme have lessened staff workload in public hospitals, despite the need for one-on-one supervision, city counterparts have said.
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The local nurses spoke out on Monday after concerns that mainland nurses had added to the burden on the city’s healthcare system.

Savina Sze Yee-man, a nurse consultant in gerontology in New Territories East, said that mainland colleagues had helped share the work burden.

“What they offer is not only a pair of ordinary hands, but they are also very professional and knowledgeable,” Sze, who is a mentor to mainland nurses, said.

“They are able to work with us to provide better services. They aren’t a burden to frontline staff in hospital wards, but can help share the workload.”

Staff at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kowloon have welcomed colleagues from Guangdong on an exchange scheme. Photo: Sam Tsang
Staff at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kowloon have welcomed colleagues from Guangdong on an exchange scheme. Photo: Sam Tsang

Wong Mei-ling, a ward manager in medicine at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, highlighted an incident where a patient seriously ill with Covid-19 was treated quickly as colleagues from Guangdong were familiar with a machine that provided high-flow oxygen therapy, which is also used in the mainland.

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