ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY FOR FOREIGN HEALTHCARE WORKERS

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ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY FOR FOREIGN HEALTHCARE WORKERS: 2.

Er Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Health (a) what is the level of English

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language proficiency required from foreign applicants before they are appointed as nurses at our hospitals; and (b) whether they have to undergo an oral test to ensure their proficiency to communicate in English.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health (Mr Hawazi Daipi) (for the Minister for Health): Sir, one challenge faced by foreign nurses working in Singapore is the variety of local languages and dialects spoken by our patients. We have Mandarin and Malay conversational language training for foreign nurses to enable better nurse-patient communications.

However, English proficiency is most important for speaking, understanding and documentation in healthcare work. Hence both the prospective employers and the Singapore Nursing Board (SNB) require that foreign nurses applying to work in Singapore have English language proficiency. First, interviews are conducted by the prospective employers in English to assess their oral English proficiency. Next, the applicants are required to take the SNB licensure test in English. The test seeks to evaluate the applicants’ general nursing knowledge and communication skills.

Once they start their employment, foreign nurses are closely supervised during their probation. Employers will only confirm their employment if they have the required competencies, which include English language competency and communication. So far, the written test and interviews have been effective in screening foreign applicants for their English language proficiency.

Er Lee Bee Wah (Ang Mo Kio): Sir, two supplementary questions. I would like to ask Senior Parliamentary Secretary how many complaints have there been in the last three years regarding the com

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munication problems with nurses. Second question: is there any plan to increase the intake of nursing courses in our polytechnics and ITEs?

Mr Hawazi Daipi: Sir, at Ministry of Health, we do not receive complaints on language or communication problems. There may very well be such problems at the hospital level but they have not been escalated to MOH. But that probably indicates that the problem is not so acute. We understand that because of the multi-racial composition of our nursing staff, the hospitals will have to organise the shifts very carefully to ensure that there is a good spread of nurses with different language capabilities on duty at any one time. This is a challenge that the hospitals are taking very well. As I said, at the moment, there is no problem that Ministry of Health has received from patients or their families on this matter.

On intake of students, yes, we have been increasing the number of students in our courses, whether is it at ITE, Nanyang Polytechnic or Ngee Ann Polytechnic as well in NUS for the degree course. Over the years, the number has increased, from about 940 in 2003 to slightly more than 1,500 in 2006. For this year, our target is to take about 2,000 students.

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STAMP DUTIES (AMENDMENT) BILL: First Reading

The Second Minister for Finance (Mrs Lim Hwee Hua): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have the President’s recommendation for the introduction of this Bill. I beg to introduce a Bill intituled 'An Act to amend the Stamp Duties Act (Chapter 312 of the 2006 Revised Edition)'.

Bill read the First time.

Second Reading

Mr Speaker: Second Reading, what day?

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Mrs Lim Hwee Hua: Today, Sir, after the conclusion of proceedings on the Supplementary Supply (FY 2009) Bill. Mr Speaker, Sir, I lay upon the Table a Certificate of Urgency signed by the President in respect of the Stamp Duties (Amendment) Bill.

Certificate of Urgency signed by the President in respect of the Bill, laid upon the Table by the Minister.

Mr Speaker: The Certificate is in order. Are typed or printed copies of the Bill available for the use of Members?

Mrs Lim Hwee Hua: Yes, Sir. Copies of the Bill have been provided to the Clerk, who will now distribute it to Members. [ Copies of handouts distributed to hon. Members ]