Elderly Patients Readmitted within 30 Days after Discharge From Hospital

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong asked the Minister for Health (a) whether the readmission rates for patients aged 65 years and above within 30 days after their discharge from public hospitals have declined in the last five years; and (b) what measures have been taken to minimise readmission.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: Across all public hospitals, the readmission rates for patients aged 65 years and older within 30 days after discharge showed a slight increase in the last five years, rising from 18.9% in 2013 to 19.5% in 2017, as our patients get older. After adjusting for patients’ age and severity of their conditions, readmission rates range between 11.6% and 11.8%.

Our public hospitals have implemented various programmes to reduce re-admissions. These include the Hospital-to-Home or ("H2H") programme which provide integrated care support to facilitate patients’ transition home via medication reconciliation, telephonic support, linkages with appropriate community-based services and caregiver training. To date, H2H has served more than 14,000 patients. MOH has also developed more community hospitals, to provide sub-acute as well as rehabilitation care for acute hospital patients who require a longer period of recovery. This enhances the functions and confidence of the patients, thus reducing the risk of readmission.

MOH and the public hospitals will continue to work with community and primary care providers to enhance the continuation of care for our patients in the community after their discharge from the hospitals.