Number of Patients Suffering from Bedsores or Pressure Injury in Community Hospitals
Ministry of HealthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong’s inquiry regarding the prevalence and prevention of pressure injuries in community hospitals and nursing homes. Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong stated that severe cases in community hospitals have remained stable at about three annually, with no rising trend observed in nursing homes. Current preventive protocols involve monitoring at-risk patients and implementing measures such as regular turning and the use of air mattresses. The Ministry of Health and the Agency for Integrated Care are also promoting cross-institutional learning to share best practices and quality improvement initiatives. Furthermore, the Ministry has convened a Pressure Injury Workgroup of nursing experts to develop enhanced preventive and management measures across the care continuum.
Transcript
19 Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong asked the Minister for Health (a) in the past five years, whether the number of cases of patients suffering from bedsores or pressure injury have increased in community hospitals and nursing homes; and (b) whether the Ministry has an action plan to improve preventive care for bedsores.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: The number of severe pressure injuries in community hospitals has remained stable, at approximately three cases a year, in the last five years. MOH currently does not mandate reporting of pressure injuries in nursing homes, as they are assessed to be a lower risk setting. This is based on studies which have shown that the pressure injury risk and impact is higher and more severe in patients requiring higher levels of care. Nonetheless, based on discussions with nursing homes, MOH and the Agency for Integrated Care have not noted an increasing trend in pressure injuries.
Our healthcare professionals monitor patients for pressure injuries, and implement preventive measures for at-risk patients, which include those who are malnourished or critically ill. Examples of such preventive measures are the use of air mattresses, and turning patients regularly.
MOH and the Agency for Integrated Care have been encouraging cross-institutional sharing of learnings and quality improvement initiatives. MOH has also recently convened a Pressure Injury Workgroup comprising nursing wound experts across the care continuum, to explore and develop further preventive and management measures.