By Teo Wan Gek, The Straits Times, 8 Mar 2012
PEOPLE suffering from mental conditions like depression will not have to make a long trek to a hospital, under a government plan to bring help to a nearby neighbourhood clinic.
More than $100 million will be spent over the next five years on this new community-based approach in providing such services as counselling and psychotherapy.
These services will complement those currently offered by the hospitals.
Initially, these will be tried out as a pilot project in the north and central regions.
'Our goal is to build a network of care and support services that are integrated with our primary care and long-term care services,' said Minister of State for Health Amy Khor yesterday when she announced the new approach.
It is part of an overall health masterplan to deliver care more effectively, by increasingly having more people treated in the community than in hospitals.
As the population increases, about 2 per cent more people are expected to suffer from schizophrenia each year.
And in a rapidly ageing population, the number of people with dementia will also rise sharply.
'We must enhance our mental health capabilities to cope with this increased burden,' said Dr Khor.
'Our strategy of keeping people healthy and managing their health conditions well to reduce the need for costly hospitalisations also applies to those with mental conditions.'
The teams that will provide community-level care will be made up of doctors, nurses and psychologists.
Called Assessment and Shared Care Teams (Ascat), they will be found at community clinics and medical centres.
The target is to have six Ascat teams by 2016 to manage up to 9,500 patients, said Dr Khor.
In addition, 10 specialised teams will be set up to support general practitioners in treating patients with mild to moderate mental conditions, such as anxiety and depression, by providing counselling and psychotherapy services.
A community helpline will be introduced too. It will give Senior Activity Centres and grassroots organisations information they can use to help patients and caregivers know the range of services available.
Hospitals will get a boost as well.
Two more psychiatric nursing homes will be built over the next five years, each adding 250 beds.
Also, one additional psychiatric rehabilitation home and two more psychiatric sheltered homes will be built.
These are expected to cost the Government $70 million, and increase the capacity of psychiatric intermediate and long-term care facilities from 1,000 beds to 1,700 beds.
To meet this expansion, 15 new psychiatrists will be added each year in the next five years, up from the yearly five between 2008 and last year.
Related
MOH BUDGET 2012 SPEECHES
PEOPLE suffering from mental conditions like depression will not have to make a long trek to a hospital, under a government plan to bring help to a nearby neighbourhood clinic.
More than $100 million will be spent over the next five years on this new community-based approach in providing such services as counselling and psychotherapy.
These services will complement those currently offered by the hospitals.
Initially, these will be tried out as a pilot project in the north and central regions.
'Our goal is to build a network of care and support services that are integrated with our primary care and long-term care services,' said Minister of State for Health Amy Khor yesterday when she announced the new approach.
It is part of an overall health masterplan to deliver care more effectively, by increasingly having more people treated in the community than in hospitals.
As the population increases, about 2 per cent more people are expected to suffer from schizophrenia each year.
And in a rapidly ageing population, the number of people with dementia will also rise sharply.
'We must enhance our mental health capabilities to cope with this increased burden,' said Dr Khor.
'Our strategy of keeping people healthy and managing their health conditions well to reduce the need for costly hospitalisations also applies to those with mental conditions.'
The teams that will provide community-level care will be made up of doctors, nurses and psychologists.
Called Assessment and Shared Care Teams (Ascat), they will be found at community clinics and medical centres.
The target is to have six Ascat teams by 2016 to manage up to 9,500 patients, said Dr Khor.
In addition, 10 specialised teams will be set up to support general practitioners in treating patients with mild to moderate mental conditions, such as anxiety and depression, by providing counselling and psychotherapy services.
A community helpline will be introduced too. It will give Senior Activity Centres and grassroots organisations information they can use to help patients and caregivers know the range of services available.
Hospitals will get a boost as well.
Two more psychiatric nursing homes will be built over the next five years, each adding 250 beds.
Also, one additional psychiatric rehabilitation home and two more psychiatric sheltered homes will be built.
These are expected to cost the Government $70 million, and increase the capacity of psychiatric intermediate and long-term care facilities from 1,000 beds to 1,700 beds.
To meet this expansion, 15 new psychiatrists will be added each year in the next five years, up from the yearly five between 2008 and last year.
Related
MOH BUDGET 2012 SPEECHES
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