"AFTER OFFICE HOURS" CLINICS FOR NON-EMERGENCY CASES

Dr Lily Neo asked the Minister for Health whether there are plans to have more "after office hours" clinics for non-emergency cases in the other Government Hospitals and the Restructured Hospitals apart from those in the Singapore General Hospital and the Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Since 1994, SGH and TTSH have been operating walk-in clinics that are open from 8 am until 11 pm. This means that these walk-in clinics operate only 2 hours longer than most GP clinics.

Between 1994 and the end of 1996, the total number of emergency cases in SGH increased from 138,100 in 1994, to 161,900 in 1996. This is an increase of 17% over the 2 years. However, the number of non-emergency cases jumped from 27,600 in 1994, to 63,500 in 1996, an increase of 130%. For TTSH, the emergency cases increased by 12% between 1994 and 1996, while the number of non-emergency cases jumped by 76%.

It would appear that the walk-in clinics may be giving the public the wrong impression about the role of the A&E departments in SGH and TTSH. Some people may be using the A&E as a convenient screening service, knowing that if considered non-emergencies, they can still seek treatment at the nearby walk-in clinics. However, by using the A&E as a screening service, they unnecessarily increase the workload of the already hard-pressed A&E staff, and worse, delay treatment for the emergency and more deserving cases.

In view of the experience with the existing walk-in clinics, the other acute hospitals have no plans to set up similar clinics.