SINGAPORE'S biggest health-care providers will soon look to people in their golden years to plug a flood of job openings in hospitals and clinics.

SingHealth and the National Healthcare Group (NHG), which together run some of the most prominent medical centres on the island, unveiled a plan yesterday to rehire workers over 62, the current retirement age.

The move will benefit more than 700 workers who will reach 62 within the next five years, the companies said.

Seniors will be offered the option of being rehired in the same job or in another position, provided they are competent and healthy.

The new deal comes well ahead of a 2012 deadline for all firms to offer those over 62 a chance to be rehired.

SingHealth manages Singapore General Hospital (SGH), Changi General Hospital, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, nine polyclinics and five national speciality centres.

NHG manages Tan Tock Seng, Alexandra and National University hospitals, the Institute of Mental Health, nine polyclinics and the National Skin Centre.

To make their workplaces more elderly-friendly, both companies will tap into a government scheme that gives employers up to $400,000 to recruit, retain or rehire older staff.

Workers in the health-care sector are in booming demand - Singapore's aged population is set to triple to almost 900,000 in 2030.

Currently, nearly seven in 10 health-care workers who hit 62 are rehired by the public hospitals and polyclinics they work for.

This is higher than the national average of 63 per cent among men and 26 per cent among women aged 60 to 64 who return to work.

SingHealth human resource director Geraldine Lee said the plan will offer 'peace of mind' for older staff anxious to hold on to their salaries.

'Instead of waiting till the last minute before they retire, we want our staff to feel open about discussing their career options with their supervisors two, three years ahead of time,' Ms Lee said.

The company has developed programmes to help elderly employees ease back into work with financial workshops and counselling sessions, she added.

Under one initiative, the Silver Connection programme, seniors attend workshops to help them set personal goals and plan for their post-retirement finances.

The NHG is also working to make the workplace more senior friendly.

At Alexandra Hospital, for example, mature workers are given routine health checks to encourage them to monitor their own health.

Madam Shirley Ma, 60, who works as a nurse clinician at SGH, said she is looking forward to mentoring her younger colleagues at the hospital after she turns 62.

'It's important to keep myself mentally active,' said Madam Ma, who earns around $5,000 a month. 'I'm glad that I can continue contributing to the health-care industry even at my age.'