FIRE SERVICE AMBULANCES (Adequacy)

Mr Yeo Toon Chia asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether there is any plan to increase the number of ambulances so that there will be enough ambulances deployed at each fire station.

The Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Chua Sian Chin): Sir, the Singapore Fire Service has 18 ambulances which are deployed to eight fire stations strategically located throughout Singapore to provide a fairly even coverage. Serangoon and Central Fire Stations, which cover busier areas, have four ambulances each, while Alexandra Fire Station has three, Geylang two and the other stations one each. Although the service is tightly stretched at times, it is able to meet the requirements.

There is a steady increase in the number of ambulance calls in the last five years from about 51,000 calls in 1979 to 61,000 calls in 1983, an increase of about 20%. The ambulance fleet was only expanded by two in 1982. The Ministry of Home Affairs, together with the Management Services Department, is studying the long-term needs of the Ambulance Service to ensure that a satisfactory level of service provided to the public is maintained. The number of ambulances will be increased if the study shows that there is a need for it.