GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS (24-hour visit system in children's wards)

Parliament of Singapore · 2 August 1971 · 2nd Parliament

Official Report, 2 August 1971, Vol 31, Issue 3 · Open in the reader (summaries, search, filters)

Chua Sian ChinTeong Eng Siong
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Mr Teong Eng Siong asked the Minister for Health if he is considering implementing a 24-hour visit system in children's wards in all Government hospitals, as this would permit parents to assist in looking after their children: and whether it is possible to provide beds for visitors who stay overnight.

The Minister for Health (Mr Chua Sian Chin): Mr Speaker. Sir, a 24-hour visit system for parents wishing to visit their children in the children's ward is already implemented in all the children's wards in the Outram Road General Hospital. Where it is necessary for the parents to stay overnight, a mother's room is also available. There are no children's wards in the other Government hospitals.

At the St. Andrew's Orthopaedic Hospital, the children are sent to convalesce from orthopaedic and other medical conditions. As this is a convalescent hospital, the sole purpose is the giving of continued medical attention and nursing care, which cannot be provided for at home. Children are encouraged to have regular habits with regular exercise, rest periods and meal times. Time for schoolwork, physiotherapy and occupational therapy has also to be set aside. The habit of early sleeping hours is encouraged. In the circumstances, it would be difficult to achieve this if parents are allowed to come in and upset the normal timetable as well as distract other children, as the wards are open wards.

Mr Teong Eng Siong (Sembawang): (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I know that the 24-hour visit system is implemented in the Outram Road General Hospital. But I would like to know whether this system is also implemented in the other hospitals.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, may I just repeat what I have said just now? There are no children's wards in the other Government hospitals.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Sir, can the Minister for Health assure the House that when a children's ward is set up in any Government hospital, this 24-hour visit system will be implemented?

Mr Speaker: Question No. 5, Mr Low.

Source: Singapore Parliament Official Report (Hansard) for 2 August 1971. Republished on SGParliament.