Auxiliary Medical Service

The Auxiliary Medical Service (AMS) is a government financed volunteer organisation established under the Auxiliary Medical Service Ordinance. Its main role is to augment the regular medical, health and ambulance services during emergencies and to supplement such services in non-emergency situations. The Director of Health is the Commissioner of the AMS, and is responsible to the Chief Executive for the efficient operation of the organisation, which has an establishment of 100 civil servants.

Following a review of the volunteer organisation of the AMS, a simplified and streamlined structure with an establishment of 4 418 volunteer members, was instituted in September. The volunteer members come from all walks of life, and include medical practitioners, nurses and paramedical personnel.

In order to meet the changing needs of the community, the AMS has established new supporting units in the reorganised structure, such as the Communication & Information Technology Division, Public Relations & Education Division and Service Quality Division. Furthermore, professionals such as medical practitioners and nurses were posted to operational teams at the district level to provide better service to the public.

With a view to improving the quality of emergency care at disaster scenes, the AMS introduced a three-year Disaster Medical Assistants Training (DMAT) Programme for its volunteer members in 1998. By completion of the programme at the end of 2001, a total of 3 200 members had received special training regarding disaster nursing, emergency medicine, duties at radiation monitoring centres and basic disaster psychology, and qualified as Disaster Medical Assistants. In order to maintain their DMAT proficiency, a newly designed Enhancement Training Programme has been introduced into the regular training of the members concerned.

The non-emergency services provided by the AMS to the community include an ambulance transfer service; first aid training; first aid coverage at country parks, major public functions and fund raising activities; and the daily manning of 21 methadone clinics. In 2001, 15 780 patients benefited from the non-emergency ambulance transfer service, and 3 752 civil servants received training to become qualified first aiders.

To promote a sense of citizenship and healthy lifestyle among young people aged between 10 and 15, the AMS launched its Youth Ambassador Scheme in 1997. In 2001, 480 young people joined this scheme and took part in various activities such as life saving training, community services and recreational activities.

The AMS also participated in the Youth Pre-employment Training Programme co-ordinated by the Education and Manpower Bureau. Various training modules including basic first aid skills, physical fitness training and team-building were organised for 506 participants in 2001.