WOODBRIDGE HOSPITAL (Vacancies of Junior Hospital Attendants)

Mr P. Govindaswamy asked the Minister for Health when the ruling of the Industrial Arbitration Court, that vacancies of Junior Hospital Attendants at Woodbridge Hospital should be filled, will be implemented.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health (Mr Sia Kah Hui) (for the Minister for Health): I am replying on behalf of the Minister.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the ruling of the Industrial Arbitration Court made on 20th August, 1964, that all remaining vacancies of Hospital Attendants at Woodbridge Hospital should be filled not later than 31st October, 1964, was duly implemented by the Ministry. It should be stated, however, that whilst no difficulty was encountered in filling 19 vacancies for males, there are still 7 vacancies for female Hospital Attendants, although 40 were selected out of 237 applications to fill 14 vacancies. This situation arose either through refusal to take up offers of appointment after selection, or resignation.

The Ministry has now initiated a second recruitment exercise for the filling of these 7 vacancies of female Hospital Attendants.