NEUROSCIENCE CENTRE IN TAN TOCK SENG HOSPITAL

Mr J. B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for Health why Tan Tock Seng Hospital was chosen as the home for the proposed Neuroscience Centre in preference to Singapore General Hospital.

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Sir, Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) was the first hospital in Singapore to develop clinical expertise in managing patients with neurological and neurosurgical conditions. It started a Department of Neurosurgery and Neurology in 1972, and established a separate Department of Neurology in 1978. Over the years, TTSH has built up a solid reputation in managing patients with neurological problems. SGH started its neurosurgical service in 1990, and developed separate Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery in 1993.

The well-established expertise, capabilities and track record of TTSH in the neurosciences make it the most appropriate location for the new Neuroscience Institute. Thus when my Ministry approved the redevelopment of TTSH in 1990, provisions were made to incorporate the Neuroscience Institute in the new hospital.

It is also in line with my Ministry's intention to let each regional hospital, like TTSH and the New Changi Hospital, develop and be known for two or three specialty areas.

Members may also be interested to note that the Neuroscience Institute, although located at TTSH, will be the national centre to coordinate all clinical service, teaching and research programmes. It will be opened to all well qualified and experienced neuroscience clinicians and scientists from the public and private sectors and university. They will hold joint appointments to the NSI and be able to participate actively in its programmes and help to establish the Neuroscience Institute as the top regional referral centre for neuroscience.

Mr Jeyaretnam: May I ask the Minister, Mr Speaker, Sir, whether the Singapore General Hospital has expended monies in buying equipment for the Centre before it was decided to house it at Tan Tock Seng Hospital?

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Sir, the SGH Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery have been developing since 1990 and, in the course of development, they have been purchasing equipment. Whether or not those equipment could be used at the new NSI is another matter. But they have been purchasing equipment which are relevant to their needs of today and where the equipment have enough capacity to cater to patients from the other hospitals, they have indeed been sharing these equipment with them.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Is there a danger, may I ask the Minister, of a duplication of services at extra cost?

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Sir, the danger of duplication, especially unnecessary duplication of services leading to waste, is something which has always been at the top of the priorities in my Ministry. Because of that, we do coordinate the type of services that can be provided at the different hospitals, not just in terms of the neurosciences but in terms of the other specialties as well. In view of the plans for the Neuroscience Institute, the activities of both SGH and TTSH will now be better coordinated to ensure that they work together towards the implementation of the NSI because we expect the staff from both hospitals to be actively involved in the Neuroscience Institute when it is completed in about 2(r) years time.