HOSPITAL WAITING TIMES
Mr Ong also addressed a question about the long wait times for consultation and beds in hospitals.
Hospitals are seeing a high number of patients whose conditions do not require emergency care, the group chairmen of the medical boards of SingHealth, the National Healthcare Group and the National University Health System said on Friday night.
Mr Ong said on Sunday: “This is something that’s been happening since the beginning of the year. It’s not something new.”
While the hospitals are not seeing a lot more COVID-19 patients, more wards are taken up by such patients during a wave.
“So imagine before this wave, we have about 200 beds occupied. Now it is 600 plus, so 400 beds got taken out because of COVID-19 patients,” Mr Ong explained.
This means it is harder for emergency departments to refer patients to wards, making emergency departments more congested. He added that measures are being taken to help the situation.
Life continues to be “very hectic” in hospitals, said Mr Ong.
“Even while we carry on with our life and are happy that the COVID-19 situation has stabilised, remember we need to give healthcare workers our full support,” he added.
“These healthcare workers are old and young, men and women, of all seniorities, local and foreign – and foreign they’re from many countries – they all deserve our support.
“We want them to stay as an integrated team – lift up their morale as much as possible, continue to show the love, care and support as we did at the height of the pandemic.”