REORGANIZATION OF MAJOR HOSPITALS

Encik Mansor Haji Sukaimi asked the Minister for Health what steps are being taken or planned to improve the major hospitals like Tan Tock Seng, Alexandra, Toa Payoh and Kandang Kerbau to meet the increasing demands for better hospital facilities following the reorganisation of hospitals on a regional basis.

The Minister of Defence and Second Minister for Health (Mr Goh Chok Tong): Mr Speaker, Sir, the four regional hospitals are Singapore General Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Alexandra Hospital and Toa Payoh Hospital. The present Kandang Kerbau Hospital is still a specialist hospital concentrating on obstetrics and gynaecology.

The rebuilding of Singapore General Hospital, providing up-to-date facilities for 1,627 beds, has just been completed at a total cost of $261 million. So far, 1,200 beds have been put into operation. The remaining beds will be commissioned in stages over the next few months.

The 1,324-bed Tan Tock Seng Hospital has a mixture of relatively new and very old buildings. Progressive improvements through rebuilding and renovation will be made over the next few years. Plans are in hand to rebuild and relocate the Accident & Emergency Department at an estimated cost of $17 million. The proposal is being evaluated by the Ministry of Finance. A new building to house all the Specialist Outpatients Clinics and a new multi-storey ward block to replace some of the wards in the very old structures are being considered.

Alexandra Hospital has 589 beds. It was a Military Hospital inherited from the British. Over the last few years, the Ministry of Health has spent $3 million to convert it into a regional hospital. Improvements were made to the following facilities:-

(a) Specialist Outpatient Clinics

(b) Central Sterile Supplies Unit

(c) Wards and Delivery Rooms. The feasibility of rebuilding the Operating Theatre Suites and X-ray Department is still being studied.

Toa Payoh Hospital has 424 beds. A major improvement project to renovate some of the wards, operating theatres and X-ray Department and to create a Central Sterile Supplies Department has just been completed at a cost of $2 million. More Specialist Outpatient Clinics are being provided to meet the increasing outpatient load.

A fifth regional hospital, the University teaching hospital at Kent Ridge, is under construction. It is being built in two phases. Phase I started in September 1981 and will be completed in end-1984. The first patients will be taken in on 1st April 1985. Phase 11 will be tendered out soon and is scheduled for completion in end-1985. Together, they will provide modern diagnostic and curative facilities for 767 beds. The total project cost is estimated at about $300 million.

Kandang Kerbau Hospital has 687 beds for O&G patients. In line with patients' preference for better privacy, there is an on-going project to upgrade some of the open Class C wards into Class B2, B1 and A wards. Class B2 wards are becoming popular. We have just completed converting and renovating a 36-bed Class C ward into a Class B2 ward. Another Class C ward is being upgraded into Class B2 as well. At a later stage, Kandang Kerbau Hospital will also be turned into a regional hospital.

As part of the Government's drive to enhance efficiency and productivity in the hospitals and to improve the health care services to the public, a major project costing $16 million is being implemented to computerize the administrative operations of the hospitals and other departments of the Ministry.

Encik Mansor Haji Sukaimi (Kampong Kembangan): Mr Speaker, Sir, considering the large developments in the Bedok and Tampines area, is the Ministry having plans to construct a regional hospital in that area?

Mr Goh Chok Tong: Mr Speaker, Sir, there is no immediate plan. But a site in that area has been reserved for the future possibility of building one.

Encik Mansor Haji Sukaimi: Sir, how "future" is the future?

Mr Goh Chok Tong: Mr Speaker, Sir, it is listed in the 20-year Health Plan.