NOTICE PAPER NO. 1950
NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER
FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 3 JULY 2023
Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Dr Lim Wee Kiak
MP for Sembawang GRC
Question No. 4643
To ask the Minister for Health (a) whether public hospitals are allowed to reject patients referred by polyclinics because their residential addresses fall outside the healthcare cluster and, if so, what percentage of referrals are rejected for this reason; and (b) how will the Ministry assist such patients, including hospital staff, who may be denied access to their workplace’s outpatient benefits due to their residential addresses.
NOTICE PAPER NO. 1950
NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER
FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 3 JULY 2023
Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Dr Lim Wee Kiak
MP for Sembawang GRC
Question No. 4644
To ask the Minister for Health (a) how does the Ministry plan to improve the triage process for patients referred to public hospitals by polyclinics, ensuring transparent justifications for rejecting referrals; and (b) what plans does the Ministry have to ensure effective communication in cases of rejected referrals, while establishing appropriate channels for follow-up and resolution.
Answer
1 Mr Deputy Speaker, may I have your permission to answer PQ 24 and 25 on today’s Order Paper?
2 Public hospitals do not reject patients referred by polyclinics based on their residential address. Public hospitals may occasionally reject patients if the referrals are inappropriate, such as to a specialty that the hospital does not provide.
3 Patients are also prioritised based on their medical condition and need. In rare situations, if the hospital is not able to provide an appointment within the time demanded by the urgency of the case, then the hospitals will inform patients and the referring polyclinics to direct the referral to a more appropriate institution, e.g. one where there are more timely slots available. The polyclinics will discuss alternative arrangements with the patient, including making a referral to another institution where applicable.
4 Patients may also contact the polyclinic, hospital or the Cluster’s main appointment centre to seek clarification and assistance for their referrals.