Nursing recruitment falls short of target

Amid an apparent scramble for nurses in Hong Kong, it seems unlikely the Hospital Authority will be able to recruit all the nursing professionals it needs.

The authority held a job fair yesterday at its headquarters in Argyle Street, Mong Kok, which attracted only 291 applications, falling well below its recruitment target of at least 500 full-time or part-time nurses.

Fresh nursing school graduates, including those from overseas institutions, were the targets, along with registered or enrolled nurses not in the workforce at present and whose salaries would be commensurate with their work experience.

Authority chairman Anthony Wu Ting-yuk said he expected the fair to attract qualified nurses who had left jobs at public hospitals because of long working hours and lack of promotion prospects.

'We understand that nurses want more interaction with patients and a clear career path,' Mr Wu said. 'The authority will seek to alleviate the workload of nurses and improve their career development.'

But waiting at the entrance of the job fair were several promotion officers from two local private nursing agencies, handing out leaflets and name cards to those interested in part-time or full-time jobs in community centres, private hospitals, clinics and health-care centres run by non-governmental organisations.

Debonia Leung Ching-yee, a registered nurse who took early retirement in 2004, said she would sign up for a part-time job.