NEW PUBLIC SECTOR HOSPITALS (Limiting size of rooms)

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NEW PUBLIC SECTOR HOSPITALS:

(Limiting size of rooms) 9\. Dr Tan Sze Wee asked the Minister for Health whether he will consider limiting the size of all rooms in new public hospitals to at most four beds per room, with an attached toilet and bathroom, as a means of achieving better prevention and control of the spread of communicable diseases in public hospitals.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: Dr Tan Sze Wee suggested that we limit the number of beds to four per room in our public hospitals in order to better control the spread of communicable diseases.

While I appreciate his good intention, this would unfortunately mean that such hospitals would have to go without Class B2 and C wards. I know that Dr Tan is a strong supporter of means-testing and it is possible to have all patients in private wards but enjoying different subsidy level in accordance with their income. But this would require a much more intensive form of means-testing than what I have in mind and what Singaporeans, I think, are prepared to accept.

The key point is whether good infection control can be achieved in an open ward. While large open wards pose a greater challenge, a high standard of infection control is still achievable if there is rigorous adherence to infection control practices and work processes, such as hand-washing, barrier nursing and prompt isolation of infectious patients.

During the SARS crisis, Members may recall that Alexandra Hospital, with large open wards, remained SARS-free.

Dr Tan Sze Wee: Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Minister for his reply. I refer to the reply that was given to me for the written answer where out of the patients who had VRE in SGH, a significant proportion - in fact, more than 50% - were in B2 and C Class wards. I would

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like to suggest that perhaps the Minister consider, in the proposed new northern general hospital, that the wards as well as the bed sizes are so designed that it takes into account the fact that infectious diseases can be spread much more easily when patients are confined in the same space.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: I think, for new hospital design, our Class C wards are now much smaller. Alexandra Hospital, which I talked about just now, has as large as 40 beds. But those are I think Florence Nightingale days. Nowadays, if we keep it to 10, 15 and sufficiently "cubicalised", I think we can minimise the problem.