STATISTICS OF HOSPITAL BED ACCOMMODATION AND REQUEST FOR EMERGENCY UNIT AT THOMSON ROAD HOSPITAL

Mr P. Govindaswamy asked the Minister for Health (a) how many beds there are in each hospital, giving separate figures for beds in the different classes, where applicable; (b) whether the number of beds in each type of hospital is adequate to meet present needs; (c) whether there is a programme for expansion of hospital bed accommodation to meet future needs, and if he will give details; and (d) if he will consider setting up an emergency unit at the Thomson Road Hospital for the treatment of casualties.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, in reply to the first part of question (a) , there are 14 Government hospitals in Singapore with a total of 6,797 staffed beds at present, of which the majority 6,433 or 90 per cent are free of charge (i.e. 'C' Class). There are 249 'B' Class beds at a charge of $12 per day and 115 'A' Class beds at a charge of $30 per day or $40 per day, if air-conditioned.

As the hon. Member has asked for details of the number of beds in each hospital, and their classification as well, I am therefore submitting the details in a separate schedule for tabling and circulation instead.

With regard to (b) , as a general rule, it can reasonably be said that the present bed capacity in Government hospitals as a whole are adequate, but the following three are either congested or under great pressure, namely, Woodbridge Hospital, Outram Road General Hospital and Kandang Kerbau Hospital.

Before answering (c) of the question on proposed programme of expansion, may I, Sir, indicate certain steps which have already been taken to lessen the present congestion or pressures of the three named hospitals?

Firstly, in the case of Woodbridge Hospital, thanks to the efficacy of modern drugs and in accordance with modern practice, it has been possible for more and more patients to be discharged from hospital and to continue treatment in what are known as Day Centres. Secondly, as Trafalgar Home, which adjoins Woodbridge Hospital, is only half-full, a section of Trafalgar Home is now being renovated and converted for the transfer of the chronically sick from Woodbridge Hospital, in order to relieve the congestion at the latter hospital.

In the case of Outram Road General Hospital, it has been necessary to alleviate the pressure of numbers by a quicker turnover of patients and the average length of stay of patients is around nine days per patient. It is agreed that this is not an ideal method, but has to be resorted to until such time as more hospitals can be built and, what is even more important, more staff, i.e, doctors, nurses and technicians, and equipment are available.

An effort, however, has already been made to relieve the pressures on Outram Road General Hospital with the setting up of two surgical theatres in Thomson Road Hospital in January 1965, thus converting it into Singapore's second General Hospital.

Two effective steps have already been taken to relieve the pressure in Kandang Kerbau Hospital. In order to encourage greater use of our Free Domiciliary Midwifery service, a nominal charge of $10 was levied for 'C' Class patients from December 1964. Next, Government has given full publicity for some time regarding the need to offer Singapore mothers the latest techniques in Family Planning and have, in fact, established a Family Planning and Population Board in January this year to implement a 5-Year Family Planning programme in all Maternal and Child Health Centres.

Both these measures, I am glad to say, have shown immediate and heartening results. Out of a total of 58,217 births in Singapore in 1964, there was a peak number of deliveries in Kandang Kerbau Hospital at 39,598. Last year, 1965, the total number of deliveries in Singapore fell to 55,736, and for the first time Kandang Kerbau Hospital also showed a drop in its deliveries at 38,849.

As for the response to Family Planning under the auspices of the Family Planning and Population Board, I am pleased to say that for the first 5 months of this year, a total of 15,718 mothers are now receiving family planning assistance, made up of 4,691 new cases and the balance being former Singapore Family Planning Association cases.

As for future plans of expansion, firstly, we intend to build more Day Centres for the mentally ill; secondly, to build a third General Hospital of about 700 beds for the eastern part of Singapore under the second 5-Year Development Plan 1966/1970, and, thirdly, a Maternity Wing of 120 beds has already been provided for in this year's Development Estimates in Thomson Road General Hospital which, when completed, should greatly relieve Kandang Kerbau Hospital.

In respect of (d) of the question under reply, Sir, Thomson Road General Hospital has a Casualty and Emergency Unit with effect from July 1965 but limited to admission of casualties and accident cases between the hours of 8.30 in the morning and 3.00 in the afternoon. It is planned to operate this Emergency Unit on a 24-hour basis as soon as nursing staff are available to man it.

Following is the Schedule: GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS IN SINGAPORE Hospitals Type Paying Paying Free C Total A Class B Class Class 1. Changi Prison As stated - - 64 64 Hospital 2. Chronic Hospital Old age - - 68 68 3. Kandang Kerbau Maternity 18 36 389* 443 Hospital and Gynaecology 4. Mental Defective Children - - 45 45 Unit 5. Middle Road Skin and - - 61 61 Hospital Social Hygiene 6. Middleton Infectious - - 250 250 Hospital Diseases 7. Outram Road As stated 69 148 1,061 1,278 General Hospital 8. Police Training As stated - - 20 20 School Hospital 9. Queenstown Prison As stated - - 6 6 Hospital 10. St. Andrew's Children - - 120 120 Orthopaedic Hospital 11. Tan Tock Seng T.B. and - - 1,320 1,320 Hospital general 12. Trafalgar Home Leprosy - - 965 965 13. Thomson Road As stated - - 288 288 General Hospital 14. Woodbridge Mentally 28 65 1,776 1,869 Hospital ill --- --- ----- ----- Total 115 249 6,433 6,797 === === ===== ===== * For deliveries a nominal charge of $10 was made effective as from 1st December, 1964.