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26 Jun 2009
By MINISTER FOR HEALTH MR KHAW BOON WAN
Mr Kim Joong Kyum, President and CEO of Hyundai Engineering and Construction Company Ltd;
Ms Jennie Chua, Chairman of Alexandra Health;
Board members of Alexandra Health;
My parliamentary colleagues;
Ladies and gentlemen.
1 Let me first thank President Kim for his personal commitment towards the completion of the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital next year. The residents in the north look forward to the new hospital.
Opening on Track
2 At this ceremony, we mark the completion of the construction of the building structure. Things are taking shape, and I am glad that we are on schedule.
3 The plan is to open the specialist outpatient clinics by April, and the rest of the hospital by October next year.
A Hassle-free Patient-centric Hospital
4 Today’s ceremony is a reminder of what we are trying to achieve in terms of healthcare for the future in the north.
5 Five years ago, I challenged the KTPH team to build a hassle-free hospital, with patients unambiguously at the centre of focus, with technology fully exploited for the benefit and convenience of patients. It should be a hospital where patients do not get lost or get pushed from pillar to post, with minimal bureaucracy and paper work.
6 I also said this hospital should be well-linked to the polyclinics, GPs and nursing homes in the neighbourhood, to which patients can be transferred seamlessly and in a way that makes the most sense to them.
7 I knew it was a tall order and would be pleased if they could achieve half of what I had sketched. I remain hopeful that the team would be able to meet my challenge.
8 The hardware aspect of building the hospital is the easier part. We know we will have a beautiful and modern hospital. KTPH is well designed, with enhanced natural ventilation, cooler interiors and wards. The hospital facilities will be more spacious and comfortable for patients.
9 However, it is the software that will determine if the team succeeds in its mission. I know they have been working hard, developing the software to match the hardware. They are recruiting and retaining talent, as well as training, developing and growing talent. They have grown their number of healthcare professionals by 35% in the last 3 years. They aim to deliver healthcare with skill and a personal touch.
Integrated, Seamless and Holistic Healthcare Hub
10 Our vision is an integrated, seamless and holistic healthcare hub in the north. With KTPH, we will have the first major piece of the puzzle in place. The second piece will be a new community hospital to be built next door. Its planning has begun. Earlier this month, my Ministry signed an MOU with 3 VWOs including the Villa Francis Nursing Home and the Singapore Christian Home. The MOU commits my Ministry to build 3 new nursing homes in different parts of Singapore. In turn, the VWOs commit to running the new nursing homes with enhanced professional capabilities and closer coordination with the other healthcare partners. The new Villa Francis Nursing Home will be just across the road from KTPH and the new Singapore Christian Home will be in Sembawang Town nearby. Both nursing homes shall open before 2012. They form the third piece of the healthcare puzzle that we are putting in place to serve Singaporeans living in the north.
11 There will be proper division of labour. KTPH will provide “fast medicine”, with fast-paced, high-speed acute care capabilities to take care of the critically ill. This 550-bed hospital will be linked seamlessly to the new community hospital by way of the Sky Bridge on Level 3. The community hospital will represent “slow medicine” for non-acute patients. Right across the road from KTPH will be the new nursing home to be run by Villa Francis for nursing and therapy services not available or practical to be provided at home.
12 Together, the various entities will work with other partners, including GPs, Yishun Polyclinic next door, Home Nursing Foundation and other polyclinics and nursing homes in the vicinity, to provide a spectrum of services from wellness programmes, coughs and colds, chronic disease management, acute care interventions to palliative and end-of-life care. Together, they will make up an integrated healthcare hub in the north that will take care of practically all the healthcare needs of each patient from head to toe, from beginning to end.
13 This is our vision of what the future of healthcare in the north should be like. It will soon materialize before our eyes.
A Beautiful Environment Awaits Residents
14 As local MPs, my parliamentary colleagues and I are happy for our residents living in the north. Your new hospital, new community hospital and new nursing homes will bring modern medicine to your door step. They will be sited in a beautiful, green and peaceful environment. They will also create many good job opportunities for you.
15 Let me add that I have set another objective for the new KTPH. I hope it can be a hospital that the residents here regard fondly as theirs: a hospital for the community, by the community. While the bulk of the capital and running cost will of course be borne by MOH, I hope that there can be active community participation with strong spirit of volunteerism and philanthropy.
16 That was how the $125 million donation from the Khoo Teck Puat Family came about. Two years ago, when the Khoo Family asked me for suggestion of a good public project to fund, I outlined my vision of this new hospital at Yishun. They were inspired by the vision and generously followed up with their donation. Their intent is to help the hospital look after patients who require additional financial assistance over and above the usual MOH subsidy. The hospital board will put their donation to proper use.
17 I hope the hospital can be a shining example of volunteerism. I visualize a hospital where the residents nearby regularly volunteer their services to help patients with language difficulties, bring cheers to the wards, keep lonely patients company. I visualize a hospital where discharged patients volunteer to help out in patients support groups to share their personal experiences dealing with the diseases. I think this will be greatly appreciated by newly diagnosed patients and anxious patients awaiting traumatic medical interventions.
18 It is in this spirit that I applaud the proposed development in Yishun Pond. I commend the way the hospital team seeks to collaborate with the various stakeholders, including the PUB, HDB and NParks to develop a health-promoting garden around the pond. They told me that the pond will have a good range of features such as a possible promenade, a lookout tower and wetlands that will one day attract beautiful migratory birds. They are also roping in residents who are gardening enthusiasts to co-create the garden and to make it a gem in this neighbourhood. I believe they will succeed in this community effort as I watch with admiration the way they created and run the butterfly garden in the existing AH with community volunteers.
19 What we build today, we build for our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Let this KTPH Topping Out Ceremony be a promising start to the legacy we will leave behind for future generations to enjoy.
20 My Parliamentary Colleagues and our residents eagerly await the successful opening of KTPH next year and a vibrant healthcare hub in the north of Singapore. Thank you.