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As I said we are still reviewing but immediately
we have already put in place additional surveillance in terms of visits,
inspections by our MOH inspectors.
For different nursing homes, we will assess the risk level and we will tailor/design our
inspection regime
according to the risk profile of the different nursing homes.
So some homes we will visit more frequently
and some we will be able to allow the management to continue their work and we will just conduct
regular inspections.
For Nightingale Nursing Home specifically,
we now require them to submit monthly reports and so that is an additional step.
We are also considering the possibility of taping on volunteers to also help us in the
visits,
to also at the same time interact with the patients,
the residents as well as families of residents.
Therefore, we will need to look at how we can continue to add capacity in our nursing
home.
Not just the physical capacity but also to look at training
of nurses and nursing aides to support additional capacity.
As you can see the visit today, many of the nurses and nursing aides are very dedicated.
They have the interest and passion doing this work.
Their contribution is something that we should recognise, and we should really give them
due recognition.
I think they play a very important part addressing our issue of aging in Singapore.
We are looking at our manpower challenges in a comprehensive way.
How we can develop our our local manpower.
How we can make this industry more attractive.
We want to be able to develop our core local manpower expertise, in home care and nursing
aides.
At the same time, we also need to continue to see
how we can bring in quality foreign manpower to supplement the local.
Also, we are trying to enhance the local manpower supply.
Some of this will take time as I stress as we plan for expansion of capacity,
it is not just the physical capacity but also the manpower needs which is very critical.
If we just add beds without the manpower,
we will not be able to cope. So both have to grow hand in hand,
so I think it is an important issue that the ministry is addressing now.
How we can improve our manpower,
not just in nursing homes but overall health care manpower as well.