Measures at Public Hospitals to Guard against Haze and Heat

28 Ms Yip Pin Xiu asked the Minister for Health (a) how are public hospitals prepared to guard against both haze and heat; (b) whether there is a recommended temperature/humidity threshold for certain procedures to kick in at public hospitals and other providers of social services to the elderly; and (c) whether statistics on hospitalisation rates from heat stroke or dehydration are collected.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: MOH works with public hospitals to ensure the welfare of patients and staff during periods of haze or heat. They may deploy portable air purifiers and coolers in wards where needed. Newer hospitals such as Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, Jurong Community Hospital and Sengkang General and Community Hospitals also have built in air filtration systems to supply filtered air to naturally ventilated wards.

While MOH does not stipulate temperature and humidity thresholds at public hospitals or eldercare facilities, newer institutions are designed to ensure adequate air flow through the naturally ventilated areas. Older hospitals have progressively implemented mitigating measures such as spot-cooling to lower the ambient temperatures when they are re-modelled or renovated. Drinking water is readily available within the institutions for staff and patients or clients, including the elderly to stay hydrated.

On heat stroke and heat exhaustion, there are approximately 100 hospital admissions annually over the past five years.