Efforts Underway to Boost ICU Capacity Amid Staff Shortages
In Singapore, healthcare worker resignations have surged this year, with Senior Minister of State for Health Janil Puthucheary noting in Parliament on Monday (Nov 1) that approximately 1,500 health professionals left their roles in the first half of 2021, compared to the usual 2,000 annually before the pandemic. This increase is particularly pronounced among foreign doctors and nurses, with nearly 500 resignations in the first half of 2021 alone.
Dr. Puthucheary highlighted the strain on healthcare workers, describing their situation as a marathon rather than a short sprint, with many feeling physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted. The resignations are attributed to personal reasons, migration, or returning to home countries.
With staff unable to take leave, over 90% of healthcare workers couldn’t clear their 2021 leave, and in September, nurses were working between 160 to 175 hours on average. In response, the Ministry of Health (MOH) is intensifying recruitment from abroad and engaging more volunteers through the SG Healthcare Corps, alongside partnerships with private hospitals to lighten the load.
Increasing ICU Capacity
Addressing ICU bed shortages, MOH is actively increasing ICU capacity, having already ramped up from 219 to 280 beds for COVID-19 patients, with further plans to reach 350. This expansion involves repurposing hospital wards and collaborating with private hospitals. However, the challenge lies not only in bed numbers but in staffing these additional beds. Dr. Puthucheary stressed the difficulty in maintaining care quality as each nurse would have to manage more patients, with new or redeployed staff requiring training for ICU duties.
The strain is evident with ICU occupancy at around 60% for COVID-19 patients, with stays averaging 11 to 15 days. The balance between beds for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 cases remains delicate, with a reduction in non-COVID-19 ICU beds from 298 to 163 since the onset of the pandemic due to increased demand from COVID-19 cases.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung clarified past statements about potential ICU bed capacity, noting that even with an increase to 1,000 beds, the system could be overwhelmed if infection rates spike, pointing to manpower as a critical constraint.
Support for Healthcare Workers
Dr. Puthucheary acknowledged the emotional and physical toll on healthcare workers, who have been re-deployed across various departments to meet urgent needs, including providing end-of-life support to patients. He emphasized the need for extensive support for these workers to manage the ongoing crisis effectively.
