Risk of Pressure Injuries Amongst Bedridden Patients If Kept For Significant Duration At The A&E Departments

Recently, there was a surge in patient admissions in hospitals. This has led to a good number of patients, who were supposed to be warded, being cared for at A & E departments of Hospitals for significant periods of time. Based on feedback expressing concern about the care of bedridden patients, I filed a PQ asking what is the system to take care of them to ensure that they don’t develop bed sores and other pressure injuries whilst waiting to be warded. Minister for Health, Mr Ong Ye Kung, outlined the system in place to take care of bedridden patients. Through this, it will be easier for caregivers to check and ensure that their loved ones are being cared for in accordance with the standards set out by the Minister. My PQ and Minister Ong Ye Kung’s answer, which was extracted as an excerpt of his speech in answer to several PQs on the same topic, are set out below.

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Mr Murali Pillai asked the Minister for Health (a) whether the risk of suffering from pressure injuries amongst bedridden patients who are kept for significant lengths of time at the accident and emergency departments of acute hospitals before being admitted to the wards is being monitored; and (b) whether such patients may be screened in advance for their susceptibility to develop pressure injuries and treated accordingly.

Minister Ong Ye Kung: … For bedridden patients who are at higher risk of developing pressure injuries, hospitals will implement preventive nursing interventions. This includes the use of thicker mattresses or air mattresses, turning of the patients periodically and changing of diapers and drawsheets for bedridden patients…