Speech by Dr Lam Pin Min, Senior Minister of State for Health, at Dover Park Hospice 25th Anniversary Roadshow, 23 September 2017

Mr Timothy Liu, CEO, Dover Park Hospice

Distinguished guests

Ladies and gentlemen

1.         Good afternoon. I am delighted to join you at Dover Park Hospice’s Roadshow, “Better Care, Better Community” to commemorate its 25th Anniversary. Let me first congratulate Dover Park Hospice on 25 years of stellar service to the community.

RISING DEMAND FOR PALLIATIVE CARE SERVICES

2.     25 years ago, Dover Park Hospice (DPH) was founded as a secular, non-profit organisation to meet the growing need for hospice care for terminally-ill patients in Singapore. DPH started providing inpatient hospice services from 1995, and more recently home palliative services from 2011. DPH’s continued efforts to expand its services reflect its dedication to supporting patients’ wishes to be cared for in the community.

3.     Today, 1 in 7 Singaporeans are aged 65 or older. In 2030, this number will be doubled to 1 in 4. To meet the expected increase in demand for palliative care services from an ageing population, the government is working together with community providers like DPH in a number of ways to enhance the provision of palliative care services.

ENHANCING Palliative Care SERVICES

4.     First, we have expanded palliative care capacity. In a study by Lien Foundation, 8 in 10 Singaporeans have indicated that they prefer to die at home^[1]. To better support this preference, we have increased the number of home palliative care places from 3,800 in 2011 to 5,500 in 2016. For those who cannot be managed at home, we have increased the number of inpatient palliative care beds from 118 in 2011 to about 230 beds today.

5.     Second, we have enhanced the quality and value of care. The Singapore Hospice Council (SHC) will be implementing a 3-year quality improvement programme. It will train care providers, develop quality assessment tools, and collect data to ensure progress in care quality. The council will be working with providers to do this and establish a quality improvement culture across the entire palliative care sector.

6.     A key component is Advanced Care Planning or ACP. Families and individuals can make use of the ACP to record in writing his or her preference for end-of-life care. By doing so, in case of a debilitating illness, doctors and family will know how to care for the patient in a way that respects his values and wishes. This reduces the stress for the family at a time of crisis. Information on ACP is publicly available, such as through the website, LivingMatters.sg. We are working with our hospitals and polyclinics to integrate ACP services in their care processes so that ACP can be made more accessible to patients.

7.     Third, we are increasing affordability. Over the past few years, we have increased subsidies and Medisave withdrawal limits for inpatient hospice and home palliative care. This will allow more Singaporeans to access such services.

8.     Fourth, we are strengthening public awareness. While many of us may not be comfortable talking about death, we will need to start thinking, discussing and planning for end-of-life matters meaningfully as our population ages. In line with this, the Singapore Hospice Council will be embarking on a 3-year community engagement and public education initiative. This will occur through media campaigns and the distribution of engagement kits. We hope that these will also help our society to be a compassionate community that better supports persons facing end-of-life issues.

DPH AS A KEY PARTNER

9.     DPH has been a key partner in our efforts to enhance palliative care. Since opening its doors to its first patient in 1995, DPH has brought care and comfort to more than 11,000 terminally-ill patients and their families. DPH is also innovating new models of care to provide better care for its patients.

10.     For instance, DPH has piloted Programme Dignity, a home palliative care service catered to those with advanced dementia. Through this service, symptoms such as confusion and pain are better recognised and managed, allowing patients to live with dignity even towards the end of life. It also relieves some of the stress on the caregivers. I commend DPH and the Programme Dignity team on its work in this area.

11.     Moving forward, DPH will be partnering the National Healthcare Group to pilot an integrated home palliative care programme to not only serve patients with advanced dementia through Programme Dignity but also patients with end stage organ failure. Through this programme, restructured hospitals will work with community service providers such as DPH to develop medical and nursing care protocols, build up the skills of the community providers and coordinate social care with home personal care providers.

12.     We are grateful that community partners like DPH share the same vision as us, and see the importance of providing end-of-life services and innovating new models of care.  DPH is also doing its part raise public awareness about end of life care. For instance, DPH is holding a roadshow in the community for the first time.

CONCLUSION

13.     In summary, palliative care is an important part of our healthcare system which we are strengthening in the community as our population ages. As you view the exhibits, I hope you will find this roadshow beneficial and informative, and thereafter be able to share something you find interesting and useful with your friends and family. Together, we can strive to provide Better Care, and build a Better Community.

14.     I wish everyone a pleasant day ahead. Thank you.

^[1] Lien Foundation Study 2014