Hospital Authority Urges New Nursing Graduates to Preserve Patient Care Mission
HK01 · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The Hospital Authority (HA) is significantly expanding nurse recruitment as several large-scale hospital development projects approach completion. According to HA Chief Nursing Officer Dr. Tong Wah-gun, annual nurse hiring will increase from 2,534 in 2023-24 to 3,111 in 2025-26. Meanwhile, full-time nurse attrition has declined substantially to 5.5 percent as of May this year, down from double-digit levels previously. Dr. Tong's message to prospective nurses emphasizes maintaining the original aspiration of patient care as the healthcare system undergoes reform.
Key Points
- HA currently employs approximately 30,000 full-time nurses, with locally trained nurses comprising the overwhelming majority
- Non-locally trained nurses account for fewer than 1 percent of the workforce, comprising roughly 60 working nurses and 160 on short-term exchange programs
- Major hospital expansion projects include Queen Mary Hospital, Kai Tak Hospital, North District Hospital, and Prince of Wales Hospital, all scheduled for completion within the coming years
- Hong Kong's universities and HA nursing schools collectively graduate approximately 5,000 nursing students annually, yet HA cannot absorb all graduates
- Public healthcare reform will prioritize "critical, urgent, and severe" cases, requiring nurses to prepare for managing patients with complex conditions
Why It Matters
With Hong Kong's aging population driving sustained demand for healthcare services, the stable growth in nursing recruitment offers career security for new graduates while addressing the healthcare system's staffing needs . Dr. Tong's emphasis on fundamental nursing skills—clinical judgment, patient monitoring, interdisciplinary collaboration, and communication—highlights the profession's enduring value in an evolving healthcare landscape .
With Hong Kong's aging population driving sustained demand for healthcare services, the stable growth in nursing recruitment offers career security for new graduates while addressing the healthcare system's staffing needs . Dr. Tong's emphasis on fundamental nursing skills—clinical judgment, patient monitoring, interdisciplinary collaboration, and communication—highlights the profession's enduring value in an evolving healthcare landscape .