ST : Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital can stay, Govt says

Nov 26, 2010

Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital can stay, Govt says
KWSH is also in talks with the authorities to set up another hospital

By Rachel Lin
SINGAPORE'S longest-running charity hospital is set to get two birthday wishes granted.

Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital (KWSH), which celebrates its centenary this year, has been given the green light to stay in its spiritual home in Serangoon Road.

Its expansion plans are also steaming ahead. KWSH is in talks with the Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Ministry of Health to set up a new hospital elsewhere in Singapore, which it hopes will be up and running in three years' time.

This new hospital, which will have 250 to 300 beds, will be located in the heartland and capitalise on KWSH's strengths in geriatric care and rehabilitation.

Both developments were announced last night at a gala dinner thrown to celebrate KWSH's 100 years.

Previously, the 400-bed hospital's future at its Serangoon Road site was uncertain, because the lease on the land was due to expire in 2015.

It was up to the dinner's guest of honour, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, to deliver the good news.

'KWSH's board of directors have been hoping that the Government will extend their lease,' he said in a speech in Mandarin. 'The Government understands their wish and recognises the historical significance and value of the site.'

The Government would therefore preserve some of KWSH's existing buildings on the site, namely those with historical value. The rest of the six acre (2.4ha) plot will be redeveloped.

KWSH chief operating officer Ling Bee Sian had told the press in July that the hospital, which has 14 blocks, needed only one acre out of the six.

Mr Lee's announcement was met with rousing applause from the 800-strong audience at the charity gala dinner at the Shangri-La Hotel.

KWSH vice-chairman Patrick Lee responded warmly to the news. 'We are very glad... Holding a piece of land while being unsure of the future, it's hard for the hospital to plan ahead.'

The present site, he said, was significant not just as a place where medical care was provided, but also because of its social value. He said that the hospital may consider intensifying its use of the preserved blocks, for instance by adding more floors to the buildings.

On the sidelines of the dinner, the vice-chairman also spoke of the hospital's mission to expand: 'We have 100 years of experience, we want to share this experience in different parts of Singapore.'

It is still in the process of selecting a suitable site for a second hospital. KWSH hopes to get government support for this venture, he said.

KWSH's operating costs run to $16 million annually and its rent on the Serangoon Road site is $1.7 million a year.

While it does receive subsidies from the Government, it is still heavily dependent on charitable donations, he said.

KWSH was the only community hospital that did not raise its fees last year. It was founded in 1910 by a group of Cantonese merchants who wanted to provide free medical care for Cantonese immigrants. Since 1974, it has opened its doors to patients of all ethnic groups.

PM Lee praised its role in providing step-down and community care. 'KWSH has accumulated rich experience in these areas and sunk deep roots into the community,' he said. 'It can take the lead in expanding and strengthening such care... helping us cope with the medical demands of an ageing population.'

lyuexin@sph.com.sg

Copyright © 2010 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.



The Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital in Serangoon Road is celebrating its centenary this year. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE