PULAU UBIN AND PULAU TEKONG (Medical facilities)

Mr Teo Chong Tee asked the Minister for Health what measures will be taken to provide better general medical facilities for the people in Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong as such facilities are lacking in the two islands.

The Minister for Health and Acting Minister for Social Affairs (Dr Toh Chin Chye): Mr Speaker, Sir, at present, a trained Nurse Practitioner visits Pulau Tekong daily, except Tuesdays when she goes to Pulau Ubin, to provide outpatient services. She attends to about 20 patients daily at Pulau Tekong and 10 at Pulau Ubin.

The majority of cases are common ailments, like cough, cold and sore throat, poor appetite, diarrhoea, sores, boils, sore-eyes, insect bites and so on. If in the Nurse's assessment a patient requires a doctor's opinion, she will refer him to the Somapah Outpatient Dispensary. When hospitalisation is required, the patient is referred to Changi Hospital. However, such referred cases form only about 10% of total cases seen by the Nurse Practitioner.

In addition, a Maternal and Child Health team consisting of Staff Nurses and Midwives visits the two islands once a week. A Maternal and Child Health doctor visits Pulau Tekong once a month.

As the bulk of the cases at the two islands involves minor ailments and in view of their small population, the present medical facilities provided are considered adequate.