Breakdown of Inpatient Admission Rates and Outpatient Attendance Rates of Singaporean HDB Residents over Age 65 by Flat Type and Residents with Barrier-free Access from Their Homes to Lift Landings

Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Minister for Health (a) in each of the past three years, with regard to HDB-resident Singaporeans over the age of 65, what are the median, 75th, 90th and 95th percentile outpatient polyclinic and specialist outpatient clinic attendance rates in the public hospitals, broken down by flat type; and (b) whether the Ministry can provide statistics on whether such residents have barrier-free access from their home to the nearest lift landing.

Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Minister for Health (a) in each of the past three years, with regard to HDB-resident Singaporeans over the age of 65, what are the median, 75th, 90th and 95th percentile inpatient admission rates in the public hospitals by frequency of admission and total inpatient days, broken down by flat type; and (b) whether the Ministry can provide statistics on whether such residents have barrier-free access from their home to the nearest lift landing.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: Over the past three years, the polyclinic attendance rate, specialist outpatient clinic (SOC) attendances rates, inpatient admission rates and impatient bed days in the public hospitals for Singaporeans over the age of 65 and living in HDB estates, have remained generally stable 1 . Those residing in smaller HDB flat types generally had higher utilisation of inpatient and polyclinic services, but lower utilisation of SOC services, compared to residents living in other housing types. Please see the table below.

The Government has taken measures to ensure barrier-free accessibility in our housing estates. In 1990, the Code on Barrier Free Accessibility in Buildings was first introduced to set minimum standards for barrier-free accessibility in and outside buildings. Since then, all new HDB estates are built with barrier-free access features, which include wider corridors for wheelchair movement and a wheelchair accessible bathroom within the flat. Following the implementation of the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP) for over 5,000 HDB blocks, the majority of HDB residents have barrier-free access from their home to the nearest lift landing. Residents of the remaining 2,000 flats without direct lift access who have medical or mobility issues can apply for the Lift access Housing Grant (LHG) of up to $30,000, to buy a new or resale HDB flat with direct lift access.

Note(s) to Question No(s) 37-38:

1 The outpatient polyclinic statistics only include doctor visits to align with other settings. Non-doctor visits (example for dental or allied health only) have been excluded.