New Regional General Hospital In Jurong By 2006

29 Jun 2001

The government is developing a new 650-bedded hospital, Jurong General Hospital, to serve the needs of Singaporeans living in the west. The new hospital is scheduled for completion in 2006 and will replace the 404-bedded Alexandra Hospital.

The new hospital will be sited at Jurong Town Hall Road on the land currently occupied by Pioneer Junior College (refer to attached map). Near the Jurong East MRT station and bus interchange, and linked to Ayer Rajah and Pan Island expressways, the new Jurong General Hospital will provide convenient and accessible hospital care to the population in the western part of Singapore which is projected to grow to 1 million by 2010. The new hospital would meet the needs of residents living in Jurong West, Jurong East, Bukit Batok, Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang and Clementi as well as workers from the Jurong industrial area. The Ministry also plans to subsequently develop a community hospital next to the Jurong General Hospital to provide step-down care to Singaporeans in the western part of Singapore.

Jurong General Hospital is the second new-generation regional general hospital after Changi General Hospital, which was set up in 1998 to replace the old Changi Hospital and Toa Payoh Hospital. The new-generation regional general hospital has proven to be popular among Singaporeans living in the eastern part of Singapore. Since 1998, the number of patients admitted has increased by 9%, and the number of Specialist Outpatient Clinic attendances, by 25%.

The new Jurong General Hospital will have 650 beds. At least 65% would be Class C, B2 or B2+ beds to provide affordable hospital care to Singaporeans living in the western part of Singapore. The hospital will be run by the National Healthcare Group. The hospital will provide general medical services and expertise to serve most of the healthcare needs of residents living in the vicinity. More ambulatory services will also be provided to meet the growing demand for such services. Jurong General Hospital will also work with tertiary hospitals, like National University Hospital, and national centres to provide more integrated and comprehensive care to patients.

The Ministry is seeking a budget of about $400 million for the development of the new hospital. The hospital planning committee headed by Mr Liak Teng Lit, CEO of Alexandra Hospital, has already started planning of the hospital.