Ng Teng Fong General Hospital in  Jurong will open in phases

SINGAPORE — The opening of Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH) in  Jurong has been pushed back by half a year due to construction issues, setting back plans to add much-needed beds to ease the crunch in hospitals here.

However, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has said it will keep Alexandra Hospital open until NTFGH is ready.

At a press conference on Saturday, Jurong Health Services (JurongHealth), which will manage NTFGH, said the delay was due to the building’s exterior work, such as windows and panels, not being ready. This has “significant impact on the overall progress of the building construction”, as internal work cannot be done until the exterior is complete.

Windows, glass panels, air vents and claddings have to be in place before the hospital’s internal features — such as the Intensive Care Units, operating  theatres, wards and clinics — can be worked on, said JurongHealth chief executive officer Foo Hee Jug.

Its main contractor, GS Engineering and Construction Corp, cited the tight construction labour market and Thailand’s recent political unrest and curfews as challenges that it faced in completing the hospital on time. In a press release, it explained that facade subcontractor Permasteelisa’s factories are based in Thailand and that its production schedule had been disrupted by the political unrest. It may be liable to pay liquidated damages of about S$100,000 for each day delayed.

GS, JurongHealth and the MOH gave the assurance that they will be working closely together to avoid further delays to the project.

The hospital is meant to cater to residents in western Singapore and — together with Jurong Community Hospital, which opens in December — will progressively add 760 acute and community beds from year-end. Alexandra Hospital was to close temporarily for renovation with NTFGH’s opening.

Out of the 400 beds the MOH will add by the end of the year, 200 will serve acute needs. They will be added at Changi General Hospital, National University Hospital and Singapore General Hospital. One hundred and fifty of these beds will be added in response to the NTFGH delay while the others had already been in the pipeline.

The MOH gave the assurance that the hospitals that will have the additional 150 beds have the manpower and infrastructure capabilities to deal with the increase in patient load. However, some might have higher patient capacity and the ministry will divert patients to those that have the capacity.

With the delay, Alexandra Hospital will continue operating its 330 beds until NTFGH opens in the middle of next year.

NTFGH will open in phases, rolling out 365 acute beds first and opening up 550 acute beds in total in 12 months. The first phase will also include 114 community beds that Jurong Community Hospital will run in NTFGH. After 12 months, NTFGH will progressively open, up to its full capacity of 700 beds.

He said the delay will have an impact on those investors “who are hoping to see increased rental values for residences and retail shops”.

Mr Nicholas Mak, head of consultancy and research at SLP International Property Consultants, said given the competing needs for construction resources, the delay could not be helped. “I think the people are still confident that the Government will deliver.”

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Ng Teng Fong General Hospital in  Jurong will open in phases

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PROPERTY LAUNCHES & INVESTMENTS

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Ng Teng Fong General Hospital in Jurong will open in phases

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Ng Teng Fong General Hospital in  Jurong will open in phases