HEART AND RENAL CLINICS AT RESTRUCTURED HOSPITALS

HEART AND RENAL CLINICS AT RESTRUCTURED HOSPITALS

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(Average waiting time for polyclinic referrals): **

33.

Mr Low Thia Khiang asked the Minister for Health what is the average waiting time for appointments at specialised heart and renal clinics of restructured hospitals for polyclinic referrals.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: The waiting time for new appointments at restructured hospitals for polyclinic referrals will depend on several factors, including the medical condition of the patient and the hospital to which the patient is referred.

For emergency cases, there is no waiting time as the polyclinics would refer the patients to the nearest Hospital Emergency Department. Non-emergency patients who are assessed to require early attention would be fast-tracked to be seen within, on average, one to two weeks at Hospital Specialist Clinics. For other non-urgent cases, waiting time varies with hospitals.

For non-urgent referrals to the cardiac units, the median waiting time in 2006 was 36 days, ranging from 17 days in Changi General Hospital to 89 days in Alexandra Hospital.

For non-urgent referrals to the renal units, the median waiting time in 2006 was 91 days, ranging from 63 days in Singapore General Hospital to 205 days in Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Although these are non-urgent cases, the waiting is too long. We have got the SGH to streamline its operation as it has the largest renal unit and sees the bulk of renal patients. For the last quarter of 2006, they have brought the median waiting time down to 23 days.