SINGAPORE — The air-conditioned tent that was used by Changi General Hospital (CGH) to house patients waiting for beds — highlighted in a recent report about the hospital bed crunch situation — is meant to buffer against unexpected surges in demand, while more beds are added to healthcare facilities in the interim, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong yesterday.

An example of an unexpected surge in demand is when there are outbreaks of diseases such as dengue, he said.

Mr Gan was responding to a question on whether his ministry could have taken action earlier to avoid the need for tents to be used to house patients. CGH’s use of the tent was cited in a January report about the measures hospitals were taking to deal with the bed crunch.

Mr Gan told Parliament that the tent at CGH is a “purpose-built facility” and is meant for stable and conscious patients with less serious conditions. The hospital has also put in place clinical protocols and staffing norms to ensure those housed in the facility are cared for safely, he added.

“Built in June 2013, the tent used for the Admission Transit Area Extension at CGH is part of this buffer capacity to respond to unexpected surges in demand,” he said. “This facility is closed in times when there is no surge in demand.”

The minister also assured that “new capacity will be injected steadily into the healthcare sector across various care settings” over the next few years.

For instance, more beds will become available by the end of this year, when the Integrated Block at CGH and the new Ng Teng Fong General Hospital are opened.

By 2020, 11,000 more beds will be added in acute hospitals, community hospitals and nursing homes, “and these new facilities will serve to meet the demand for healthcare services”, Mr Gan added. Kok Xing Hui