One MP suggested that general practitioner clinics be integrated into the online appointment booking system, and another asked if patients could queue for an appointment for the next day instead.
SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Health will look into suggestions about the queueing and online appointment systems at polyclinics, said Senior Minister of State for Health Janil Puthucheary on Monday , after several Members of Parliaments raised concerns about residents being unable to get appointments.
“Some may be quite elderly, less able to go online, less able to quickly click to secure the appointment when the bookings open. I have residents who tell me that for some of the polyclinics, the online slots are used up within half an hour of the online booking starting on some days,” he added.Dr Puthucheary affirmed that a “high proportion” of the polyclinics’ workload comes from seniors.
“We are trying very hard to improve the service provision for primary care by both expanding our network of polyclinics as well as leveraging on the experience and capability of the general practitioner clinics and family physicians that are in the community and that can serve this resident population very well,” he continued.
“Maybe is there a need to … change the scheme or policy so that it becomes attractive to patients to use the CHAS GP clinics, and not all going to the polyclinics.” If a patient turns up to a polyclinic without an appointment, and if they are assessed to have an urgent need for medical attention, they will be attended to, said Dr Puthucheary.
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