GENERAL HOSPITAL (Operation of Mistri Wing)

Mr Lim Choon Mong asked the Minister for Health whether the Mistri Wing at the General Hospital is now in full operation.

Mr Braga: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Mistri Wing can accommodate 300 beds, but at present only 150 beds are in use on all floors distributed according to the ages of the children. By the end of this year, it is expected that this hospital can be in full operation as more doctors and nurses will be available. It is further hoped to have a further 90 beds by July of this year when we expect a new batch of nurses to qualify at the end of June.

Mr Lim Choon Mong: Mr Speaker, Sir, does the Minister suggest that although 300 beds are available and 150 are now in operation, there are not enough patients in Singapore to fill the other 150 beds?

Mr Braga: No child needing hospitalisation is refused. I am not aware of the number of patients in Singapore.

Mr Lim Choon Mong: Is the Minister aware, Sir, of the constant harassing requests from quite a number of children at the Social Welfare Department for admission into hospitals?

Mr Braga: If the last speaker had any information of that nature, he should have passed it on to me. I am not aware of any at the moment.

Mr Lim Choon Mong: Mr Speaker, Sir, this is a matter of co-ordination between the Ministries.

Mr John Ede: Will the Minister state why an expensive million-dollar building was constructed without at the same time ensuring that it could be adequately staffed from the beginning?

Mr Braga: It must be realised, Mr Speaker, Sir, that it is uneconomical to build in stages and total postponement of construction would have denied even the 150 beds available to the sick children today.

Mr Lim Choon Mong: Does it not indicate, Sir, that there is no forward planning so as to dovetail construction with staffing?

Mr Speaker: It is a matter of opinion.