UPDATE ON PLANS FOR HOSPICE FACILITIES AND PALLIATIVE CARE

UPDATE ON PLANS FOR HOSPICE FACILITIES AND PALLIATIVE CARE

29.

Mr Sin Boon Ann asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the Ministry’s plans to increase the number of hospice beds and healthcare specialists who provide palliative care and whether these plans are on track.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: Currently, there are four inpatient hospices, with a total of 127 beds. Their average bed occupancy rate is about 70%. As we promote palliative care, increased awareness and an ageing population should lead to an increase in demand for palliative care. We are gearing up for this development.

First, we are expanding capacity. Several hospice providers intend to increase their bed capacity and we are working with them. As a short term target, our plan is to increase the current capacity by about 70 beds. We are also working with home hospice providers to expand this sector so that more patients can receive palliative care at home.

Second, we are recruiting and training more palliative specialists. Currently, we have 17 palliative medicine physicians, with a good pipeline of trainees. By 2012, the pool should grow to 25. We are also exposing more doctors to palliative care and palliative care is now part of the training curriculum for all family physicians. As a result, there is a growing interest among doctors, especially family physicians, to take up palliative training as a subspecialty.

Thirdly, we are also expanding the pool of nurses trained in palliative care. Currently, we have 141 nurses trained in palliative care. We are sending more nurses on courses on palliative care through our Health Manpower Development Programme. In addition, we have started an Advanced Diploma in Nursing (Palliative Care) programme in Nanyang Polytechnic. From next year, we should see about 20 nurses graduate annually from the programme. Meanwhile, many institutions are providing shorter courses to equip our nurses with the basic skills of palliative management.