BEDS IN SINGAPORE HOSPITALS

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for Health if he will give the number of beds that have been made available over the last five years, year by year, for Class A, B and C patients in the government hospitals.

Dr Hu Tsu Tau: The distribution of Government hospital beds by class of accommodation over the last five years from 1980 to 1984 is shown in the attached appendix (see below).

The reduction in the total number of beds in recent years was due to the closure of Sembawang Hospital in March 1983 and the transfer of 200 beds from Woodbridge Hospital in June 1984 to the Ministry of Community Development for the continued care of destitute ex-psychiatric patients. DISTRIBUTION OF GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL BEDS BY CLASS OF BED, 1980-84 Number Hospital & Class of Bed Acute Hospitals Other Hospitals All Hospitals Year A B1 B2 C Total A B1 B2 C Total A B1 B2 C Total 1980 196 496 66 3874 4632 26 76 -- 3376 3478 222 572 66 7250 8110 1981 211 524 527 3479 4741 26 76 -- 3401 3503 237 600 527 6880 8244 1982 246 592 736 3076 4650 30 82 -- 3404 3516 276 674 736 6480 8166 1983 260 608 1023 2719 4610 30 82 -- 3404 3516 290 690 1023 6123 8126 1984 276 640 1128 2629 4673 30 122 -- 3164 3316 306 762 1128 5793 7989 Footnotes: (1) "Acute Hospitals" are the multi-disciplinary hospitals catering to the acutely-ill (viz. Singapore General, Tan Tock Seng, Kandang Kerbau, Toa Payoh, Alexandra & Changi Hospitals). (2) "Other Hospitals" are specialised hospitals or those treating long term, chronic sick patients (viz. Woodbridge, View Road, St. Andrew's & Middle Road Hospitals).