CLASS B2 AND C WARDS IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS

CLASS B2 AND C WARDS IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS:

(Shortage of beds): 10.

Mdm Cynthia Phua asked the Minister for Health (a) whether the Ministry will consider providing non-air-conditioned Class B1 wards in public hospitals as many elderly patients are uncomfortable with air-conditioning and there is a shortage of beds in Class B2 and C wards; and (b) what is the Ministry's plan to solve the shortage of beds in Class B2 and C wards of our public hospitals.

The Minister of State for Health (Mr Heng Chee How) (for the Minister for Health): Mr Speaker, Sir, as my Minister has just replied to Mdm Halimah on how the Ministry of Health intends to meet the rising demand for subsidised beds, I will not repeat that part.

The first part of Mdm Cynthia Phua's Question relates to the provision of non-airconditioned Class B1 wards. On that subject, we do receive an occasional request, but when we look at it in proportion to the requirements that most patients going into B1 ask for, then it does not amount to a strong demand. Our feedback has in fact been that many patients opt for B1 wards precisely for

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their air-conditioned comfort. As the request is generally caused by the shortage of Class B2 wards and the beds there, we will focus on adding more B2 beds as a more meaningful solution.

Mdm Cynthia Phua (Aljunied): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to ask the MOS, in view of the demands of the elderly residents who are averse to air-conditioned rooms, whether Yishun Hospital and the existing hospitals as well will be providing more subsidised beds or non-airconditioned beds to cater to our elderly residents.

Mr Heng Chee How: Mr Speaker, Sir, for B2 and C class wards, they are not air-conditioned. In the case of B1 wards, there are four beds in each room and they are air-conditioned. Not everybody is averse to air-conditioning. In fact, we have found out that the majority of people look for air-conditioned comfort as well. In the current setting, those who feel that they might need an extra blanket or so are certainly given one. For Class A1 wards, they are single-bedded and they are able to adjust the temperature in their own rooms according to the thermostat.

With regard to the new hospital in the north, as my Minister has explained, new beds are certainly going to be made available there up to 550, most of which would be subsidised beds. In the B2 and C class wards, that would not be a problem.

Mdm Cynthia Phua: Mr Speaker, Sir, with the principle of means-testing, which means that if people can afford a better ward, eg, B1, with better medical attention, in such a case, an elderly resident who is averse to air-conditioning may want a higher medical attention ward but without air-conditioning. What I am saying is that we are now going into a

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growing elderly population. This is a demand from the residents as well.

Mr Heng Chee How: Mr Speaker, Sir, our feedback has been that, currently, patients who opt for B1, many prefer the air-conditioned comfort. But, in the same breath, I would say that we continue to take in the feedback. If the demography changes and the demand patterns change, we certainly would take that into account in the configuration of the amenities that we provide.