Nurse-to-Patient Ratio in Restructured Hospitals

Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap asked the Minister for Health (a) what is the current nurse-to-patient ratio in the restructured hospitals; (b) what is the difference in the ratio allocations between 2005 and 2015; and (c) whether the Ministry has any plans in place to mitigate the strain faced by nurses in the course of their work.

The Senior Minister of State for Health (Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan) (for the Minister for Health): The appropriate nurse-to-patient ratio is determined by patient needs and the main factors considered are patient acuity and the clinical setting. The nurse-to-patient ratio for day shifts in the general wards in the public hospitals was one is to five in 2014, compared to one is to eight in 2004.

The overall ratio has improved, but caring for patients remains demanding because our patients' acuity and needs have also increased over the period, partly due to our ageing population and partly due to higher expectations.

To address these challenges, we have been redesigning processes and harnessing technology to improve productivity. For example, the Closed Loop Medication Management (CLMM) System implemented in several public hospitals has significantly improved efficiency and patient safety, even while the hospitals are handling increasing patient volumes. The

Page: 36

automated processes have saved substantial nurses' time previously spent on medication administration, freeing up their time for direct patient care.

As nursing ward care in the hospital is 24/7, we are also looking into implementing more flexible work arrangements in the public healthcare institutions to better meet the work-life needs of nurses. Since the start of this year, selected wards in the Changi General Hospital, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore General Hospital and Tan Tock Seng Hospital have piloted new flexible work arrangements. Feedback from the pilot wards has been encouraging. The participants of the pilot generally welcomed the initiative.

With these enhancements to the workplace, our nurses are given more flexibility and are able to derive a greater sense of satisfaction from being able to provide a higher level of care to their patients. We are making steady efforts to enhance nursing as a profession and will continue to invest in our nurses and support them in their work.