Severe Bed Shortage in Hospitals. Patients Lie in Tents & Corridors!

[makapaaa]

[h=1]Ministry of Health spells out efforts to tackle bed crunch[/h][h=2]Gan: Patients' comfort also important amid bed shortage in public hospitals
[/h]
Published on Jan 09, 2014
4:33 PM

95

178

0

Purchase this article for republication
Buy SPH photos


<STYLE> .storyRight { width:520px; } </STYLE><!-- content area start -->[h=1]Bed Occupany Rates (Dec 29-Jan 4)[/h]<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="440" width="520"><g><g class=gridlines transform="translate(60)"><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(0 400)"><line style="opacity: 0.8; fill: none; stroke: lightgray" y2="0" x2="440"></line><text style="text-anchor: end" dy="0.32em" y="0" x="-3"></text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(0 375)"><line style="opacity: 0.8; fill: none; stroke: lightgray" y2="0" x2="440"></line><text style="text-anchor: end" dy="0.32em" y="0" x="-3"></text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(0 350)"><line style="opacity: 0.8; fill: none; stroke: lightgray" y2="0" x2="440"></line><text style="text-anchor: end" dy="0.32em" y="0" x="-3"></text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(0 325)"><line style="opacity: 0.8; fill: none; stroke: lightgray" y2="0" x2="440"></line><text style="text-anchor: end" dy="0.32em" y="0" x="-3"></text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(0 300)"><line style="opacity: 0.8; fill: none; stroke: lightgray" y2="0" x2="440"></line><text style="text-anchor: end" dy="0.32em" y="0" x="-3"></text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(0 275)"><line style="opacity: 0.8; fill: none; stroke: lightgray" y2="0" x2="440"></line><text style="text-anchor: end" dy="0.32em" y="0" x="-3"></text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(0 250)"><line style="opacity: 0.8; fill: none; stroke: lightgray" y2="0" x2="440"></line><text style="text-anchor: end" dy="0.32em" y="0" x="-3"></text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(0 225)"><line style="opacity: 0.8; fill: none; stroke: lightgray" y2="0" x2="440"></line><text style="text-anchor: end" dy="0.32em" y="0" x="-3"></text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(0 200)"><line style="opacity: 0.8; fill: none; stroke: lightgray" y2="0" x2="440"></line><text style="text-anchor: end" dy="0.32em" y="0" x="-3"></text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(0 175)"><line style="opacity: 0.8; fill: none; stroke: lightgray" y2="0" x2="440"></line><text style="text-anchor: end" dy="0.32em" y="0" x="-3"></text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(0 150)"><line style="opacity: 0.8; fill: none; stroke: lightgray" y2="0" x2="440"></line><text style="text-anchor: end" dy="0.32em" y="0" x="-3"></text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(0 125)"><line style="opacity: 0.8; fill: none; stroke: lightgray" y2="0" x2="440"></line><text style="text-anchor: end" dy="0.32em" y="0" x="-3"></text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(0 100)"><line style="opacity: 0.8; fill: none; stroke: lightgray" y2="0" x2="440"></line><text style="text-anchor: end" dy="0.32em" y="0" x="-3"></text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(0 75)"><line style="opacity: 0.8; fill: none; stroke: lightgray" y2="0" x2="440"></line><text style="text-anchor: end" dy="0.32em" y="0" x="-3"></text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(0 50)"><line style="opacity: 0.8; fill: none; stroke: lightgray" y2="0" x2="440"></line><text style="text-anchor: end" dy="0.32em" y="0" x="-3"></text></g>
</path></g><g class=axis transform="translate(60)"><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(0 400)"><line style="fill: none; stroke: black" y2="0" x2="-6"></line><text style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; text-anchor: end" dy="0.32em" y="0" x="-9">70</text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(0 375)"><line style="fill: none; stroke: black" y2="0" x2="-6"></line><text style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; text-anchor: end" dy="0.32em" y="0" x="-9">72</text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(0 350)"><line style="fill: none; stroke: black" y2="0" x2="-6"></line><text style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; text-anchor: end" dy="0.32em" y="0" x="-9">74</text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(0 325)"><line style="fill: none; stroke: black" y2="0" x2="-6"></line><text style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; text-anchor: end" dy="0.32em" y="0" x="-9">76</text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(0 300)"><line style="fill: none; stroke: black" y2="0" x2="-6"></line><text style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; text-anchor: end" dy="0.32em" y="0" x="-9">78</text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(0 275)"><line style="fill: none; stroke: black" y2="0" x2="-6"></line><text style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; text-anchor: end" dy="0.32em" y="0" x="-9">80</text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(0 250)"><line style="fill: none; stroke: black" y2="0" x2="-6"></line><text style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; text-anchor: end" dy="0.32em" y="0" x="-9">82</text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(0 225)"><line style="fill: none; stroke: black" y2="0" x2="-6"></line><text style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; text-anchor: end" dy="0.32em" y="0" x="-9">84</text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(0 200)"><line style="fill: none; stroke: black" y2="0" x2="-6"></line><text style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; text-anchor: end" dy="0.32em" y="0" x="-9">86</text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(0 175)"><line style="fill: none; stroke: black" y2="0" x2="-6"></line><text style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; text-anchor: end" dy="0.32em" y="0" x="-9">88</text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(0 150)"><line style="fill: none; stroke: black" y2="0" x2="-6"></line><text style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; text-anchor: end" dy="0.32em" y="0" x="-9">90</text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(0 125)"><line style="fill: none; stroke: black" y2="0" x2="-6"></line><text style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; text-anchor: end" dy="0.32em" y="0" x="-9">92</text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(0 100)"><line style="fill: none; stroke: black" y2="0" x2="-6"></line><text style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; text-anchor: end" dy="0.32em" y="0" x="-9">94</text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(0 75)"><line style="fill: none; stroke: black" y2="0" x2="-6"></line><text style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; text-anchor: end" dy="0.32em" y="0" x="-9">96</text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(0 50)"><line style="fill: none; stroke: black" y2="0" x2="-6"></line><text style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; text-anchor: end" dy="0.32em" y="0" x="-9">98</text></g>
</path></g><text class="axis title" style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif" transform="rotate(270 29.88 225)" y="225" x="38.6679" text-anchor="middle">Bed Occupancy (%)</text><g class=axis transform="translate(0 1275)"><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(60)"><line style="fill: none; stroke: black" y2="6" x2="0"></line><text style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; text-anchor: middle" transform="" dy="0.71em" y="-866" x="0">Dec 29</text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(133)"><line style="fill: none; stroke: black" y2="6" x2="0"></line><text style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; text-anchor: middle" transform="" dy="0.71em" y="-866" x="0">Dec 30</text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(207)"><line style="fill: none; stroke: black" y2="6" x2="0"></line><text style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; text-anchor: middle" transform="" dy="0.71em" y="-866" x="0">Dec 31</text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(280)"><line style="fill: none; stroke: black" y2="6" x2="0"></line><text style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; text-anchor: middle" transform="" dy="0.71em" y="-866" x="0">Jan 1</text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(353)"><line style="fill: none; stroke: black" y2="6" x2="0"></line><text style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; text-anchor: middle" transform="" dy="0.71em" y="-866" x="0">Jan 2</text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(427)"><line style="fill: none; stroke: black" y2="6" x2="0"></line><text style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; text-anchor: middle" transform="" dy="0.71em" y="-866" x="0">Jan 3</text></g><g class=tick style="opacity: 1" transform="translate(500)"><line style="fill: none; stroke: black" y2="6" x2="0"></line><text style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; text-anchor: middle" transform="" dy="0.71em" y="-866" x="0">Jan 4</text></g>
</path></g><text class="axis title" style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif" transform="" y="437.2879" x="280" text-anchor="middle">Date</text>
</path>
</path>
</path>
</path>
</path>
</path><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#6b94b0" r="4" cy="81.25" cx="60"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#6b94b0" r="4" cy="85" cx="133"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#6b94b0" r="4" cy="132.5" cx="207"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#6b94b0" r="4" cy="115" cx="280"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#6b94b0" r="4" cy="81.25" cx="353"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#6b94b0" r="4" cy="91.25" cx="427"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#6b94b0" r="4" cy="117.5" cx="500"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#d26b5f" r="4" cy="92.5" cx="60"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#d26b5f" r="4" cy="120" cx="133"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#d26b5f" r="4" cy="148.75" cx="207"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#d26b5f" r="4" cy="83.75" cx="280"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#d26b5f" r="4" cy="63.75" cx="353"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#d26b5f" r="4" cy="97.5" cx="427"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#d26b5f" r="4" cy="110" cx="500"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#d39651" r="4" cy="128.75" cx="60"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#d39651" r="4" cy="137.5" cx="133"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#d39651" r="4" cy="171.25" cx="207"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#d39651" r="4" cy="128.75" cx="280"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#d39651" r="4" cy="112.5" cx="353"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#d39651" r="4" cy="95" cx="427"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#d39651" r="4" cy="137.5" cx="500"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#95b957" r="4" cy="153.75" cx="60"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#95b957" r="4" cy="122.5" cx="133"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#95b957" r="4" cy="200" cx="207"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#95b957" r="4" cy="200" cx="280"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#95b957" r="4" cy="140" cx="353"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#95b957" r="4" cy="163.75" cx="427"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#95b957" r="4" cy="192.5" cx="500"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#d5c65c" r="4" cy="240" cx="60"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#d5c65c" r="4" cy="221.25" cx="133"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#d5c65c" r="4" cy="381.25" cx="207"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#d5c65c" r="4" cy="307.5" cx="280"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#d5c65c" r="4" cy="226.25" cx="353"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#d5c65c" r="4" cy="266.25" cx="427"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#d5c65c" r="4" cy="307.5" cx="500"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#9d6b9e" r="4" cy="345" cx="60"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#9d6b9e" r="4" cy="315" cx="133"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#9d6b9e" r="4" cy="372.5" cx="207"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#9d6b9e" r="4" cy="367.5" cx="280"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#9d6b9e" r="4" cy="298.75" cx="353"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#9d6b9e" r="4" cy="301.25" cx="427"></circle><circle style="stroke-width: 2" opacity="0" fill="#ffffff" stroke="#9d6b9e" r="4" cy="325" cx="500"></circle><g class=legend opacity="1"><text id="legend_Changi General Hospital" class=legendText style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif" height="40" width="520" y="18.7879" x="378.86">Changi General Hospital</text><rect class="legend legendKey" style="opacity: 0.8; fill: #80b1d3; stroke: #6b94b0" height="9" width="15" y="10" x="358.86"></rect></g><g class=legend opacity="1"><text id="legend_Tan Tock Seng Hospital" class=legendText style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif" height="40" width="520" y="18.7879" x="217.72">Tan Tock Seng Hospital</text><rect class="legend legendKey" style="opacity: 0.8; fill: #fb8072; stroke: #d26b5f" height="9" width="15" y="10" x="197.72"></rect></g><g class=legend opacity="1"><text id="legend_Khoo Teck Puat Hospital" class=legendText style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif" height="40" width="520" y="18.7879" x="56.58">Khoo Teck Puat Hospital</text><rect class="legend legendKey" style="opacity: 0.8; fill: #fdb462; stroke: #d39651" height="9" width="15" y="10" x="36.58"></rect></g><g class=legend opacity="1"><text id="legend_National University Hospital*" class=legendText style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif" height="40" width="520" y="35.2879" x="378.86">National University Hospital*</text><rect class="legend legendKey" style="opacity: 0.8; fill: #b3de69; stroke: #95b957" height="9" width="15" y="26.5" x="358.86"></rect></g><g class=legend opacity="1"><text id="legend_Alexandra Hospital" class=legendText style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif" height="40" width="520" y="35.2879" x="217.72">Alexandra Hospital</text><rect class="legend legendKey" style="opacity: 0.8; fill: #ffed6f; stroke: #d5c65c" height="9" width="15" y="26.5" x="197.72"></rect></g><g class=legend opacity="1"><text id="legend_Singapore General Hospital" class=legendText style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif" height="40" width="520" y="35.2879" x="56.58">Singapore General Hospital</text><rect class="legend legendKey" style="opacity: 0.8; fill: #bc80bd; stroke: #9d6b9e" height="9" width="15" y="26.5" x="36.58"></rect></g></g></svg>

*For National University Hospital, the figures are for the adult emergency medical department only.​

Source: Ministry of HealthStraits Times Graphic: Lin Zhaowei​

By Salma Khalik Senior Health Correspondent






HEALTH Minister Gan Kim Yong has instructed public hospitals to "do everything possible" to make patients comfortable and "ensure their safety" even as they face a severe shortage of beds.

Having seen the growing demand for hospital care some years ago, he stressed yesterday that the Government has begun building more hospitals, with 1,200 beds to be added later this year.

In the meantime, "we are actively working to tackle the current crunch in a few public hospitals" he said, by sending patients to other public hospitals with available beds, and discharging them to community hospitals when possible.

Yesterday, Mount Elizabeth Novena offered to lend 60 beds to public hospitals to help relieve the space crunch. Alternatively, it said, it could take in that many patients to be cared for by its own medical team.


Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital has offered to lend 60 beds to public hospitals to help ease the bed crunch. Alternatively, it said, it could take in that many patients to be cared for by its own medical team. -- ST FILE PHOTO



<!-- /.view -->

Explaining how the new upmarket private hospital has spare capacity as it is not fully opened yet, chief executive Kelvin Loh said: "We're always open to private-public cooperation."

He added that fees will be reasonable as"the intention is to help meet the high demand".

The offer comes after a Straits Times report yesterday highlighting the severe shortage of beds at several public hospitals.

Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), Changi General Hospital (CGH) and Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) experienced more than 92 per cent bed occupancy last week, on the back of very high rates in the past year.

That means there were days when occupancy crossed the 100 per cent mark, forcing CGH, for instance, to start housing some patients in a tent this week.

Dr Loh said private hospitals usually aim for occupancy rates of 70 per cent to 75 per cent, as special beds in intensive care and isolation units, for instance, must always be kept available for emergencies.

If occupancy rates cross 80 per cent, "it means that on peak days we could cross 100 per cent and our responsiveness will be affected". "That's not acceptable in a private hospital."

Two other hospitals in the Parkway Pantai group, to which Mount Elizabeth Novena belongs, already have link-ups with the public sector. CGH rents a ward from Parkway East, while also sending some of its dengue patients to Gleneagles Hospital.

"I think the Ministry of Health should be open to all options which can help alleviate the current situation," said the chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Health, Dr Lam Pin Min, when told about Mount Elizabeth Novena's offer. He added that he will raise the subject when Parliament next sits on Jan 20.

The hospital most likely to benefit is TTSH as it is just across the road from Mount Elizabeth Novena. It has already set up temporary beds, complete with privacy curtains, along the corridors of its wards to deal with its bed crunch.

Nearly 30 patients are using these "corridor beds".

The bed crunch is also affecting the National University Hospital (NUH), with 89 per cent occupancy last week.

[email protected]
[url]www.facebook.com/ST.Salma[/URL]

 

[makapaaa]

[h=2]Gan: I’ve asked hospitals to make patients comfortable[/h]

January 9th, 2014 |

Author: Editorial

Health Minister Gan Kim Yong

In response to media reports that hospitals are now housing patients in tents and corridors (‘SG hospitals house patients in corridors & tents‘), the Minsitry of Health (MOH) said yesterday (8 Jan) that they are tackling the bed crunch in several ways.
MOH said that over 1,200 beds will be added this year, comprising acute, intermediate and long-term care capacity.
Hospitals are also looking after patients in their homes and community.
Several hospitals have started transitional care to help patients transit home smoothly, which facilitates timely discharge.
Some hospitals refer patients to “interim caregivers”, who provide comprehensive personal care to patients post-discharge, if they lack support at home.
Other hospitals have started a programme to help frail patients who have a history of frequent re-admissions control and improve their condition. This is to help patients stay out of hospital.
Community hospitals run by voluntary welfare organisations have also partnered public hospitals to accept patients who do not require acute hospital care.
Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong said:

We have seen the trend of a steady increase in demand for healthcare services and have already planned for new hospitals, community hospitals and nursing homes a few years ago. However, this will take time to build. For example, the new Ng Teng Fong Hospital will be ready by the end of the year.
Right now, we are actively working to tackle the current crunch in a few public hospitals, such as tapping available bed capacity in other public hospitals, as well as facilitating the timely discharge of patients to available beds in the community hospitals, or with the help of home care providers.
​

Mr Gan has instructed public hospitals to “do everything possible” to make patients comfortable and “ensure their safety” even as they face a severe shortage of beds.
The population in Singapore has been increasing rapidly especially over the last few years. Last year, it hit 5.4 million, according to the Department of Statistics (DOS):

However, despite the advanced “planning” which Mr Gan claimed took place a few years ago, supply simply could not keep up with demand, resulting in the current situation of hospitals resorting to tents and corridors to accommodate their patients.
If the planning had been that good a few years ago, surely Singaporeans now do not need to stay in makeshift tents and corridors while they are treated.

Previous Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan

Mr Khaw Boon Wan, the previous Minister for Health even boasted in 2010 during the opening of the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) that Singapore would not be caught out by a shortage of hospital beds ever again [Link]:

Mr Khaw said that Singapore will not be caught out by a shortage of hospital beds again.
The building of Jurong General Hospital will start this year. The hospital, slated to have about 700 beds, should open before 2015.
Although Alexandra Hospital will then be closed and its 300 beds taken out of the system, there will still be a net increase of about 400 beds.
A site in the Sengkang-Punggol area, which has a growing population, has been reserved for yet another new hospital.
​

But as things have turned out, even KTPH now has to resort to sending patients to Alexandra Hospital because it too, could not cope with the demand for hospital beds.
Regardless of what Khaw or Gan has promised, the fact remains that, compared to OECD countries in terms of hospital beds per 1,000 people, Singapore is at the bottom with the poorer OECD countries such as Turkey, Chile and Mexico [Link]:

Japan	13.4
Korea	9.6
Germany	8.3
Austria	7.7
Hungary	7.2
Czech Republic	6.8
Poland	6.6
France	6.4
Belgium	6.3
Slovak Republic	6.1
Finland	5.5
Luxembourg	5.4
Estonia	5.3
Greece	4.9
Switzerland	4.9
Netherlands	4.7
Slovenia	4.6
Australia	3.8
Denmark	3.5
Italy	3.4
Portugal	3.4
Iceland	3.3
3.3
Norway	3.3
Spain	3.2
United States	3.1
Ireland	3.0
United Kingdom	3.0
Canada	2.8
New Zealand	2.8
Sweden	2.7
Turkey	2.5
Chile	2.2
Mexico	1.7

<COLGROUP><COL width=182><COL width=81></COLGROUP><TBODY>
[TD="width: 182, align: left"] Country [/TD]
[TD="width: 81, align: left"] Number of hospital beds per 1000 population [/TD]

[TD="align: left"]Israel[/TD]

[TD="align: left"] Average [/TD]
[TD="align: left"] 4.8 [/TD]

</TBODY>

(based on latest available figures from each individual country)
Singapore is not a member of OECD. Singapore’s hospital bed density can be derived from DOS [Link]:

<COLGROUP><COL width=118><COL width=113><COL width=87><COL width=113></COLGROUP><TBODY>
[TD="width: 118"] Year [/TD]
[TD="width: 113, align: left"] No of hospital beds [/TD]
[TD="width: 87, align: left"] Population (’000) [/TD]
[TD="width: 113, align: left"] Number of hospital beds per 1000 population [/TD]

[TD="align: right"]2007[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]11,547[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]4,588.6[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2.5[/TD]

[TD="align: right"]2011[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]11,394[/TD]
[TD="width: 87, align: right"]5,183.7[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2.2[/TD]

[TD="align: right"]2012[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]11,854[/TD]
[TD="width: 87, align: right"]5,312.4[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2.2[/TD]

</TBODY>

As one can see, Singapore’s number of hospital beds per 1,000 people actually decreased from 2007 to 2012, dropping from 2.5 to 2.2, primarily due to a burgeoning increase in population (15.8% from 2007 to 2012) versus a small increase in the number of hospital beds (just 2.7% from 2007 to 2012).
Hence, in terms of hospital bed density, we are no better than the poorer OECD countries. This is a fact, no matter how PAP Minister Gan or Khaw wants to colour it.

 

[makapaaa]

Singapore Fooled: January 9, 2014 at 7:38 pm Singapore Fooled(Quote)
It’s very shocking to increase the population from 3.2 millions around 1990 to the current 5.38 millions, an increase of nearly 68% , but the number of hospital beds were increased by a very small number.
Plus the mass import of foreigners to be PRs and new citizens, added to the fast ageing population. A PR or new citizen may be employed in Singapore, but this PR or citizen may get his/her spouse to come as independent, and later added their ageing parents to come to get PRs or new citizenship.
Our hospital is simply not fast enough to cope with our own ageing population yet we let in an additional 2 over million foreigners to stress our hospital structure.
Worst, in recent years, many of the public and restructured hospitals have converted a chunk of the space meant for B and C class wards to A class wards to cater to rich foreigners who can pay.
It is a very sad story to hear of many willing to die rather than getting sick. Heard of a few cases recently committing suicide to stop financial burdens to their families.
So what if Singapore is a First World country? We are operating with a worst than Third World heart.

 

[ChenHaoNan]

"The PAP Government has always thrived on its ability to anticipate problems." - Wong Kan Seng

 

[Jah_rastafar_I]

Problem identified and talked about pappies got fucked but it still happens

 

[bushtucker]

why would a public listed healthcare group bother to help public hospitals? Let the govt wipe its own shit.

 

[laksaboy]

"The PAP Government has always thrived on its ability to exacerbate problems." - Wong Kan Seng

Fixed that bold part for you.

 

[laksaboy]

why would a public listed healthcare group bother to help public hospitals? Let the govt wipe its own shit.

Publicly listed, but who owns most of the shares?

Same as Singtel, Sembcorp, NOL, SMRT etc. Publicly listed, but where else could cronies and ex-SAF trash be directly parachuted into positions of leadership in those companies?

 

[MadrigalWheel]

A tragedy in the making. Just imagine when some day WE become elderly Singaporeans and are told to stay at home and only go into hospitals when we are ready to claim a death certificate.

 

[laksaboy]

A tragedy in the making. Just imagine when some day WE become elderly Singaporeans and are told to stay at home and only go into hospitals when we are ready to claim a death certificate.

Yeah, a 'Please die at home' campaign will help to alleviate the shortage of hospital beds.

Die at home - funeral wake at void deck downstairs - delivery to crematorium: easy as 1-2-3.
Simple as book online air tickets, collect air tickets and fly off free and easy.

Pregnant women can also opt to give birth at home, all you need is a midwife/nurse, a towel and a kettle of hot water. Some of the maternity beds in KK Hospital can be used for more pertinent needs.