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
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.”
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.
