REFERRAL OF PATIENT FOR COUNSELLING (Standard procedure)

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REFERRAL OF PATIENT FOR COUNSELLING:

(Standard procedure): 15.

Mdm Cynthia Phua asked the Acting Minister for Health what is the standard procedure for a doctor to refer a patient for counselling in order to help them cope emotionally and psychologically with their condition after having been diagnosed with cancer or any other serious illness.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: Sir, it is always devastating for a patient when diagnosed with a serious illness like cancer.

The medical team looking after the patient is the first line of support. This comprises the attending doctors, nurses and the nurse educators. They have a heavy responsibility. Besides rendering medical care, they also assist the patients and their families to cope emotionally and psychologically.

If the medical team assesses that the patient needs special counselling, they will refer the patient to the medical social worker for the necessary emotional and psychological support. At the same time, the patient may also be introduced to community-based support groups. Often, the patient's family and care-givers are also involved.

In some cases where the patient is excessively distressed, he will be referred to a psychiatrist.

Mdm Cynthia Phua (Aljunied): Mr Speaker, Sir, in view of the suicide case of a woman and her two children, had she been counselled by a medical social worker? How many cases were referred to these medical social workers in the last year? Would the medical social workers alert family members of patients who come under their counselling as a precautionary measure?

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Mr Khaw Boon Wan: Sir, is the Member talking about a specific suicide case?

Mdm Cynthia Phua: Yes, I think it was reported that the lady committed suicide with her two children.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: As far as I could gather, she was not a patient of our public hospitals.