We had a two day Allied Health Summit. I had forgotten that it was on Monday and my boss caught me walking out of the shower 5 minutes to 9 in a towel. -_- Needless to say, we got there just in time to miss the sitting-around-looking-important-for-30-minutes. The talks were interesting to listen to, with various allied health colleagues giving their two cents worth on specialisation and the future of our professions. While there is no mandatory regulatory body for everyone, there are some that are self-regulated while others refuse to be under the regulation of a professional body to safeguard public interest. I find this very worrying as there is no standardisation and professional conduct to follow. There was also talk about specialisation increasing morale and job satisfaction. While I don't mind Continued Professional Development for evidence-based practice, I do not fathom the misunderstanding that morale alone can feed the family. I for one, would not hesitate to work my arms off if it meant that my patients would receive better care. I don't mind going for courses, trying new therapies if it would enhance my practice. However, I do mind the lack of empathy and appreciation for the work we do, the lack of promotional opportunities and how we are supposed to live on morale alone.
They told us: "Morale is like SARS, it is infectious." And SARS can kill. Morale cannot feed the children, enthusiasm cannot pay the hospital bills of our parents while patient satisfaction does not cover the mortgage. In some twisted way, I can understand why Malaysian civil servants sometimes err in their line of duty. They are not remunerated in proportion to the duties and services carried out. They need to feed their families too. Obviously this does not explain why they may have ten children in the first place.
I may just give up on Hong Kong and head for greener pastures. There is so much one-up-manship here that I am tired out just listening to both sides of the coin. I don't like taking sides, division and petty arguements over minor issues. If there is no unity in our profession there is hardly going to be any progress. No one is going to help us out if we don't help oursevles.
PS: Today feels like a maggi curry day. It also feels like a Whale day, until I was convinced I am not a whale and I am not fat and that being a pirate red and white Koi with a red eye patch was cooler.
2 comments:
So, you want better pay? Go on strike like the Dutch police. They're very popular now as they're writing fewer tickets. Isn't there a medical labour union in Hong Kong? Or that's exactly what you mean with "If there is no unity in our profession there is hardly going to be any progress" and you're sort of giving up hope?
pieter: I could try to go on strike, and close the service, make them sit up and take notice. However, I am hardly ever going to make everyone else go on strike. They are all scared their families have no food to eat, or are too chicken to make a stand. There are only 20+ of us and we can't even decide when to have an AGM!
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