INCREASING RATIO OF SUPPORT STAFF TO NURSES IN PUBLIC HEALTHCARE INSTITUTIONS

NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER

FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON OR 4 FEBRUARY 2025

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang

MP for Nee Soon GRC 

Question No. 6988

To ask the Minister for Health (a) whether the Ministry has looked into the need to increase the nursing support staff to nurse ratio in the public healthcare institutions of around 1:11; (b) if yes, what are the findings; and (c) if not, whether the Ministry will look into increasing the ratio.

Answer

1                    In November 2024, in response to an earlier PQ from Mr Louis Ng, I had shared that the nursing support staff to nurse ratio in the public healthcare institutions has remained relatively stable in the past 10 years, at around one nursing support staff to 11 nurses. The number has not changed.

2                    We have been strengthening our healthcare workforce, including nurses, nursing support and other healthcare professionals. These will spread out administrative duties and help healthcare professionals practise at the top of their licence.