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SINGAPORE — With our ageing population, there are now more frail and old people who need hospitalisation, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong in Parliament yesterday, saying this was one of the factors that contributed to the high bed occupancy rate at public hospitals.
Mr Gan, who was responding to a question from Sengkang West Member of Parliament (MP) Lam Pin Min on the shortfall of beds in hospitals, said the proportion of patients aged 65 and above admitted to public hospitals rose from 28.6 per cent in 2006 to 33.4 per cent last year.
This group is also staying in hospitals for a longer period — from an average of 7.8 days in 2010 to 8.2 days last year. In contrast, the average length of stay for patients aged 14 and below shrank to 3.4 days in 2013 from 3.7 days in 2010.
“Older patients (tend) to stay longer in hospitals because it takes longer for their condition to stabilise and for them to be eligible for discharge,” said Mr Gan. “With shrinking family sizes and weaker family support over time, family members may not be ready to take the patients home in a timely manner, and this also will result in a longer stay in the hospital.” He made the same point at the topping-up ceremony of the new 700-bed Ng Teng Fong General Hospital earlier yesterday, which is set to open in December.
The hospital bed crunch came under the spotlight after it was reported that hospitals have been setting up temporary bed space and sending patients to other hospitals with higher capacities. The bed occupancy rate stands at 87.2 per cent, higher than the 85.8 per cent a year ago.
Mr Gan, who was responding to a question from Sengkang West Member of Parliament (MP) Lam Pin Min on the shortfall of beds in hospitals, said the proportion of patients aged 65 and above admitted to public hospitals rose from 28.6 per cent in 2006 to 33.4 per cent last year.
This group is also staying in hospitals for a longer period — from an average of 7.8 days in 2010 to 8.2 days last year. In contrast, the average length of stay for patients aged 14 and below shrank to 3.4 days in 2013 from 3.7 days in 2010.
“Older patients (tend) to stay longer in hospitals because it takes longer for their condition to stabilise and for them to be eligible for discharge,” said Mr Gan. “With shrinking family sizes and weaker family support over time, family members may not be ready to take the patients home in a timely manner, and this also will result in a longer stay in the hospital.” He made the same point at the topping-up ceremony of the new 700-bed Ng Teng Fong General Hospital earlier yesterday, which is set to open in December.
The hospital bed crunch came under the spotlight after it was reported that hospitals have been setting up temporary bed space and sending patients to other hospitals with higher capacities. The bed occupancy rate stands at 87.2 per cent, higher than the 85.8 per cent a year ago.
