ANG MO KIO POLYCLINIC (Expansion of medical services)

Mr Yeo Toon Chia asked the Minister for Health, in view of the heavy demand for medical services in Ang Mo Kio Polyclinic, whether his Ministry has any plans to expand the medical services.

Dr Aline K. Wong (for the Minister for Health): Mr Speaker, Sir, Ang Mo Kio Polyclinic currently provides a wide range of services which include outpatient medical treatment, maternal and child health services, health education, laboratory and home nursing services. It has a patient-load of about 1,000 attendances a day, which has remained stable in the past 10 years or so. The staff of 13 doctors and 28 nurses are able to comfortably cope with the patient-load.

Apart from the polyclinic, there are about 60 GP clinics in Ang Mo Kio. Primary health care is well provided for in the area. In addition, a Senior Citizens' Health Care Centre has opened in August this year in Ang Mo Kio Community Hospital which is only 1 1/2 kilometres away from the polyclinic. Therefore, there is no need to further expand the Government's provision of medical services in Ang Mo Kio.

Mr Low Thia Khiang: Sir, what is the range of waiting time in Ang Mo Kio Polyclinic?

Dr Aline Wong: The waiting time in Ang Mo Kio Polyclinic is just about the national average. The national average from the time of getting registered to seeing a doctor, that is, consultation, is about half an hour. This is the median, and Ang Mo Kio is just about the same.

Mr Low Thia Khiang: What is the range?

Dr Aline Wong: I am sorry I do not have the figure for the range. But it depends on the peak hour. I think everybody would observe that, during the peak hours, there is a much heavier patient-load and therefore a longer waiting time. So this median is the average. We have tried to improve the waiting time by giving appointments, especially to chronic cases, so that they can come back during the off-peak hours.