Bed Crunch at Restructured Hospitals

The following question stood in the name of Mr Arthur Fong –

To ask the Minister for Health in view of the bed crunch situation in the restructured hospitals, whether the Ministry could have taken action earlier to avoid the need for tentages to be used to tackle the situation.

Mdm Speaker, MOH has highlighted in Healthcare 2020 Masterplan the trend of rising demand for healthcare services as our population grows and ages. We have already put in place plans to add capacity under the Masterplan to meet this long-term demand for healthcare services.

While the new facilities are being developed, the demand for acute healthcare services remains high and the current capacity remains tight. From

Page: 16

time to time, there may be peaks in demand due to various factors, such as an outbreak of diseases like dengue, as well as seasonal factors. Therefore, we have also put in place some buffer capacity to anticipate such surges in demand. Built in June 2013, the tent used for the Admission Transit Area Extension at Changi General Hospital is part of this buffer capacity to respond to unexpected surges in demand. This is a purpose-built facility for housing stable and conscious patients at the Emergency Department with less serious conditions. Changi General Hospital has also put in place appropriate clinical protocols and staffing to ensure that patients are cared for safely in the facility. This facility is closed in times when there is no surge in demand.

In the next few months and years, new capacity will be injected steadily into the healthcare sector across various care settings. By the end of this year, more beds will be added from the various developments, such as the Integrated Block at Changi General Hospital and the new Ng Teng Fong General Hospital. Altogether, from now till 2020, we will add over 11,000 more acute hospital, community hospital and nursing home beds, and these new facilities will serve to meet the demand for healthcare services.