SINGAPORE - The year 2015 should turn out to be a good year, as far as health care is concerned - barring unexpected developments. In fact, if all goes well, it should be the start of a few good years, as the hard work of the past comes to fruition. <\/p>\n
Bed crunch eases <\/p>\n
First, the severe bed crunch facing public hospitals should ease this year. The shortage still exists - some hospitals still report 100 per cent occupancy on some days and patients are still being put up in makeshift waiting areas, including corridors. <\/p>\n
But this should ease as the year progresses. <\/p>\n
The bed crunch was exacerbated last year by the six-month delay in the opening of the 700-bed Ng Teng Fong General Hospital in Jurong. It is now scheduled to open by the middle of this year. <\/p>\n
Changi General Hospital made good its promise to open the new 280-bed integrated building it shares with St Andrew's Community Hospital by 2014 - but with just 20 beds at the end of last month. By end-January, another 10 beds will be ready. By July, 200 more beds will be up. <\/p>\n
With the extra beds from the two hospitals, the load on both the National University Hospital and the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital will be lighter. <\/p>\n
In all, there should be a 10 per cent increase in public general hospital beds this year - from more than 7,200 beds to about 8,000 beds - giving all hospitals some breathing space. <\/p>\n
Lower costs <\/p>\n
Next, the rising cost of health care, especially for older people, will be reined in. <\/p>\n
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Read this article: <\/p>\n
Health-care jigsaw pieces fall into place<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" SINGAPORE - The year 2015 should turn out to be a good year, as far as health care is concerned - barring unexpected developments. In fact, if all goes well, it should be the start of a few good years, as the hard work of the past comes to fruition. Continue reading