ALEXANDRA HOSPITAL (Improvement of medical and surgical treatment facilities and staffing situation)

Dr S. Vasoo asked the Minister for Health whether there are further plans to improve the medical and surgical treatment facilities as well as the staffing situation in Alexandra Hospital.

The Minister for Health (Mr Yeo Cheow Tong): Mr Speaker, Sir, my Ministry is currently undertaking a $18.2 million project to upgrade the facilities of Alexandra Hospital. The project includes:

(a) The creation of a 13-bedded Day Surgery Suite;

(b) The establishment of a clinical Department of Geriatric Medicine;

(c) Improvements to the major opera-ting theatres with better pre- and post- operative facilities;

(d) Creation of a 10-bedded Coronary Care Unit;

(e) Renovation of the X-ray Department with upgrading of equipment;

(f) We are also renovating and refurbishing all the wards. The B1 wards will be airconditioned. We will also add new Class B wards which are quite lacking in Alexandra Hospital;

(g) The total number of beds will be increased from 397 to 488 after the ward renovations.

The development of the Day Surgery Suite will be completed by the end of June 1992, ie, the end of next month. The other renovation works are being carried out in phases and are expected to be completed by early 1994.

With regard to staffing, the staffing ratio in Alexandra Hospital is comparable to the other Government and restructured hospitals. The number of professional staff has increased over the years. In the last two years, the number of doctors has increased from 80 to 85; the number of nurses from 356 to 386; and paramedical staff from 52 to 61.

To further upgrade their skills and professional knowledge, the medical and nursing staff attend continuing education courses. For the period 1989 to 1991, 9 doctors, 5 nurses and another 5 paramedical staff from Alexandra Hospital were sponsored for courses overseas and for overseas attachment to medical centres under my Ministry's Health Manpower Development Programme. All these efforts have helped to better equip them to provide a higher standard of care to the patients.

Mr Low Thia Khiang: Sir, will the charges of Alexandra Hospital increase again after the upgrading?

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Sir, for the subsidised patients, the costs of renovations are not included in the costing of services.

Dr S. Vasoo (Tanjong Pagar GRC): Sir, is there a plan to privatise or restructure the hospital?

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Sir, there are no plans at present to restructure Alexandra Hospital.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Sir, after all the improvements at the Alexandra Hospital, will there still be C class beds? If so, how many?

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Of course, there will still be Class C beds and there will be enough to cater for the needs of patients.

Mr Chiam See Tong: How many?

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: I do not have the details about the number, Sir.