Head nurse: Sylvia Fung will take up the post of Chief Manager (Nursing) from December.

The Hospital Authority has appointed Sylvia Fung as Chief Manager (Nursing) today, succeeding Dr Susie Lum who retired in May. Ms Fung will assume office on December 1.

Authority Chief Executive Shane Solomon said the appointment was made after an extensive search of the private sector, local universities and around the world.

Ms Fung is the Cluster General Manager (Nursing) of Kowloon West Cluster and has proven herself to be a truly professional nurse and leader with exceptional communication skills and outstanding vision. She has also been extensively involved in system-wide nursing developments over the years.

"The Chief Nurse will lead the many challenges ahead for nursing in the authority, including improving retention, ensuring adequate supply of nurses, addressing the workload of nurses, enhancing working conditions, expanding career opportunities within the authority, offering more training opportunities, and building up nurse leadership," Mr Solomon said.

Ms Fung will join his core leadership team and become a member of the Hospital Authority Directors' Meeting, the key operational planning and decision-making forum in the authority.

"Certainly I am committed to addressing the workload and pressures facing our nurse colleagues, with a dual focus on ensuring adequate supply of fresh graduates for the medium to longer term and in the shorter term to address the current levels of staff turnover. I will ensure good patient care through maintaining an appropriate workload balance for nurses," Ms Fung said.