CHANGI HOSPITAL (Expansion of facilities)

Mr Teo Chong Tee asked the Minister for Health whether his Ministry will consider setting up a Maternal and Child Health Unit at Changi Hospital to replace the Loyang Maternal and Child Health Clinic, which is not providing adequate services for residents in the Upper Changi area, besides being situated out of the way; and (b) whether his Ministry has plans to expand the general medical and surgical facilities at the Changi Hospital so as to upgrade it to a major general hospital, or build a new general hospital, to serve the fast-growing population in the eastern region of Singapore.

The Minister for Health (Dr Toh Chin Chye): Mr Speaker, Sir, residents in the Upper Changi area requiring maternal/child health and family planning services are now being attended to at the Bedok Polyclinic. This polyclinic was opened in October last year. The Ministry of Health is planning to set up a similar polyclinic for Tampines New Town. This clinic, when opened, will replace the Loyang Maternal and Child Health Clinic.

There is no need to expand the medical and surgical facilities in Changi Hospital which has a capacity of 180 beds but of which only 140 beds are activated. The bed occupancy rates of 42.3% for medical beds and 59% for surgical beds are very low compared to the occupancy rates of other acute hospitals. However, my Ministry is planning to convert some of the vacant medical beds in Changi Hospital into paediatric beds. This will enlarge the range of medical services that will be made available to residents in the Changi area.