Address by Minister-of-State for Health, Dr Amy Khor, at the Groundbreaking Ceremony of St Luke’s Hospital’s New Wing, 30 April, 10am, at St Luke’s Hospital

It gives me great pleasure to join you today at the Groundbreaking Ceremony of St Luke’s Hospital’s new wing.

2          St. Luke’s Hospital started its operations in 1996 and has been serving the population in the western region of Singapore by providing rehabilitative and sub-acute care for patients transferred from acute hospitals such as National University Hospital (NUH), Alexandra Hospital (AH)   Demand for St Luke’s services has also increased over the years and bed occupancy rates remain consistently high at over 85% in the past year.

Enhancing capacity and affordability

3          St. Luke’s new wing will add 48 beds, bringing its total capacity to 233 beds. Its Outpatient Clinic and ancillary services will also be expanded to cater to more patients. This expansion is in line with the government’s efforts to enhance the capacity of the Intermediate and Long Term Care (or ILTC) sector, and will go some way in meeting the demand for community hospital services by our rapidly ageing population. Under the Ministry of Health’s Healthcare 2020 Masterplan, Singaporeans can also look forward to forthcoming community hospitals in Yishun, Jurong, Sengkang and Outram, as well as the expansion of St Andrew’s Community Hospital. These new developments will mean an additional 1,800 community hospital beds by 2020.

4          Recently, my Ministry also announced the increase in government funding for the ILTC sector, including for community hospitals. By the third quarter of this year, a base subsidy will be extended to all community hospital patients staying in the six-eight bedded wards, regardless of their income.  There will also an increase in subsidy levels with the middle income seeing the largest increase of up to 50 percentage points. 

Strengthening partnerships

5          Currently, almost 80% of NUHS’s patients requiring community hospital care are admitted to St. Luke’s.  NUHS and St. Luke’s has been working together to enable the smooth transition from one hospital to the other as well as to enhance the quality of care.  For example NUHS doctors conduct regular rounds and reviews of patients at St. Luke’s, and have put in place structured transfer protocols for subacute patients from NUHS to St. Luke’s.

6          Besides NUHS, St Luke’s is also working closely with JurongHealth to design the new Jurong Community Hospital (JCH) which will be ready in 2015.  For example, the Medical Director of JCH, Dr Chua Chi Siong has been seconded from St Luke’s since July 2011 to drive the planning efforts for the community hospital.

Conclusion

7          I would like to congratulate St. Luke’s on the milestone of its expansion, and also encourage St. Luke’s to continue to strengthen its partnerships, so as to deliver better care to patients the western region of Singapore.

8          Thank you.