Limiting the size of all rooms in new public hospitals

18 Apr 2005

Question No:  77  

Question

Name of the Person: Dr Tan Sze Wee, Nominated Member of Parliament

To ask 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.

Reply

Reply From MOH

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 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 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 the Alexandra Hospital with large open wards remained SARS-free.