KWONG WAI SHIU HOSPITAL

Dr Lily Neo asked the Minister for Health if he will reverse the shelving of redevelopment plans for Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital since there is a shortage of about 1300 beds in the nursing homes at present and also, a projected exponential increase in bed demand every year due to our ageing population.

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: My Ministry has been reviewing the redevelopment plans of Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital with the hospital management and URA. As the project is currently only in the concept planning phase, MOH will work with Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital on the detailed plans and design to ensure that it meets our overall requirements for nursing homes. MOH will only be able to decide on the funding support when such details are finalised.

Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital currently has about 500 beds of which only 350 are in use due to its staff constraints. MOH will assist the hospital to activate the unused beds as soon as possible.

My Ministry is currently working with 12 other voluntary welfare organisations to build nursing homes. These are now at various advanced stages of development. We expect the number of nursing home beds to increase from 4592 at the end of last year, to 6423 by the end of 2001. This will significantly reduce the shortfall in nursing beds. In addition, we are working with VWOs to help the elderly live in their own homes for as long as possible. Institutionalisation should only be a last resort.