TRAINING FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS ON MANAGING DIFFICULT SITUATIONS

NOTICE PAPER NO. 2461
NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER
FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 09 JANUARY 2024

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Ms Mariam Jaafar
MP for Sembawang GRC

Question No. 5552

To ask the Minister for Health in light of the launch of the framework for protection of healthcare workers from abuse and harassment, what is being done to provide healthcare workers with training on managing difficult situations.

Written Answer

1     The Tripartite Framework for Prevention of Abuse and Harassment in Healthcare recommends that healthcare institutions provide both formal and informal training for healthcare workers, to manage difficult situations and potential conflicts.  

2     Some public healthcare institutions already equip their staff with such training, e.g. effective communication skills and techniques to de-escalate tense situations, or self-defence techniques to protect themselves against physical abuse.  

3     Healthcare institutions should also provide mental health support training for supervisors to better support staff who have been abused or harassed, e.g. how to recognize signs of mental trauma so that affected staff can be referred for counselling or further support. 

4     Ministry of Health will work with healthcare institutions to make more of such training available to healthcare workers as they implement the Framework.