Singapore Government Press Release

Media Division, Ministry of Information & The Arts, #36-00, PSA Building, 460 Alexandra Road, Singapore 119963, Tel: 3757794/5

SPEECH BY DR ALINE WONG, SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION, AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF ST LUKE'S HOSPITAL FOR THE ELDERLY ON FRIDAY, 18 OCTOBER 1996 AT 6.00 PM AT 2 BUKIT BATOK STREET 11

I am very pleased indeed to join all of you today for the official opening of St Luke's Hospital. It is a happy occasion, as your years of planning and hard work have culminated in this lovely hospital that we see here today.

As you know, Singapore's population is ageing. Today, only 1 in 15 Singaporeans are over 65 years of age. In 2010, the proportion will be 1 in 11 and in 2030, 1 in 5. We need to put in place a comprehensive network of healthcare services for the increasing number of elderly Singaporeans. These include not only the development of geriatric medicine and related specialised areas, the provision of more acute and convalescent hospital beds for the elderly, but also the expansion of community-based support services such as day-care centres, home nursing, domiciliary medical care and home help services which will enable the family to care for their elderly sick in their own homes. We would also need more nursing homes to care for those who have no family or whose family cannot provide adequate care at home for some reasons.

The provision of health services for the elderly cannot and should not be the responsibility of the Government alone. It is our philosophy that the Government should work in partnership with the community, whether it is in taking care of the needy, the disabled, or the sick and the elderly. St Luke's Hospital is one example of such a partnership, of the community working with the Government to look after the elderly sick regardless of race, language and religion. Here, as in other social services, the Government provides financial assistance to voluntary organisations. The Ministry of Health provided 90% of funding assistance for the building of St Luke's Hospital, amounting to $9.2 million. For its operating expenditure, the Ministry will provide 50% of the funds required, estimated at $5.5 million a year when the Hospital is operating at full capacity.

Government financial assistance is only one part of the picture, and the easier part. What makes social service projects run by voluntary organisations special is the spirit of community service, and the warmth and compassion brought by the corps of volunteers. No Government agency can replace this aspect of human love and compassion. The voluntary spirit is part and parcel of a caring and gracious society. Members of the community are bonded together through caring for one another. Furthermore, volunteers set the right tone and the right values for others to follow. I am particularly pleased to note that St Luke's has a well-structured volunteer scheme of more than 100 persons who complement the full-time hospital staff. The volunteers include docotrs, pharmacists, speech therapists and medical social workers. They also include other carers who help with the personal grooming of the patients, keeping them company, lending a listening ear, providing them with friendship and so on.

All the religions in Singapore have a great role to play to join with Government in the provision of health care services for the elderly. The building of St. Luke's has pioneered the coming together of various Christian groups and denominations in setting up a hospital. I commend the foundation members of St Luke's Hospital for their Christian love and community spirit. It is a challenge for all of you, not only in taking the initiative to build this Hospital, but also in sustaining your good work in the years to come.

This Hospital is the first hospital dedicated specially to the care of the elderly. It is also the first to provide both inpatient rehabilitation services and long term residential care for the chronic sick within one facility. What is also unique for St Luke's is that it is situated right within an HDB residential community. In a way, this is another pioneer concept for planning hospital facilities. The project could not have succeeded without the support of the local residents. I have followed the development of the Hospital closely, from its inception to its completion. I am very pleased to note that, in spite of some initial misgivings on the part of the local residents, the Hospital has received their full support. Indeed, the local residents now appreciate the proximity of the Hospital to their homes. This will make it much more convenient for them to entrust the care of their own elderly family members to the Hospital. Its location should also encourage more local residents to come forward to volunteer their services. I am sure you all appreciate the tireless efforts of Dr Ong Chit Chung, the MP for Bukit Batok, in garnering the support of the local residents for the Hospital.

Once again, I congratulate St Luke's for taking on the challenge of providing hospital care services for the elderly in Singapore. I commend the Management Committee, the hospital's staff, supporters and volunteers for their good work.