THE best thing to have in a hospital ward? A toilet.
And that's what even C-Class patients will get when the new 550-bed hospital in Yishun is ready in 2010. It beats having to trudge 50m outside the ward to do the necessary, as is the case for some C-Class wards now.
The 10-bedded C-Class wards will be divided into two sections, each with its own toilet and shower facilities. B2 wards will have five instead of the usual six beds - and a toilet and shower too.
Mr Liak Teng Lit, chief executive of Alexandra Hospital who will head the new hospital, promises to have amenities within easy reach and clear directions. 'There is only one drop-off spot, and every place will be within line of sight,' he told The Straits Times yesterday.
Nobody will have to walk very far to get from one place to another. For example, the distance from the drop-off point to the emergency department will be just 20m, while the distance to the specialist clinics will be between 20m and 40m.
Tenders for the second phase of construction were called last week and will close in November. About 10 construction firms have indicated interest, and were at the site inspection on Monday.
Convenient and green (PHOTO: MINISTRY OF HEALTH)
Key features of the new hospital in Yishun:
Only one drop-off point and it is close to the emergency department and specialist clinics. Patients will not have to walk far.
'Fins' along the building's walls to channel the prevailing north-east winds into it, thereby enhancing air flow by 20 to 30 per cent.
Sunshades to protect patients from the direct glare of sunlight.
No protruding sinks or cupboards in the wards so patients will be less likely to hurt themselves.
The contract on this $300 million phase will be awarded in January next year and work is expected to begin shortly after.
Mr Liak, known for his green thumb, wants an environmentally friendly hospital as well.
The building will use 50 per cent less energy than other recently constructed hospitals such as Tan Tock Seng, Changi General and KK Women's and Children's Hospital.
This means savings of more than $1 million a year on its utilities bill.
A team of seven National University of Singapore dons led by Associate Professor Lee Siew Eang came up with the idea of 'fins' along the hospital walls to channel the prevailing north-east winds into the building. Prof Lee said: 'We did wind tunnel tests in our laboratories and found it would enhance the air flow by 20 to 30 per cent.'
There will also be sunshades over the windows to protect patients from the direct glare of sunlight. The shades will re-direct the light towards the ceiling 'so it will look bright and cut down the need for lights in the ward'. Large fans in public areas will be powered by solar panels on the roof.
Mr Liak's team, which has been working on the concept of this hospital for several years now, had canvassed the views of patients before drawing up the specifications.
Besides asking for convenient toilet facilities, patients also said they preferred not to have protruding items like sinks and furniture. These have been known to injure patients, even causing fractures in the frail elderly.
The design of the wards got the thumbs up from Government Parliamentary Committee for Health member, Dr Lam Pin Min.
'Having showers and toilets within the ward is definitely a correct move... This is especially so when many of the subsidised patients are elderly.'
Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said the change will cost more, but it will improve infection control, 'a lesson learnt during Sars'.
For Mr Ong Kian Pang, 80, who was in a C-class ward following a heart bypass, the projected change is very welcome. He recalled: 'It was risky to walk the long distance to the toilet soon after surgery.'
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