Hospitals resume elective surgery held up by COVID-19

​Singapore's three healthcare clusters – National University Health System (NUHS), SingHealth, and National Healthcare Group – said that they are performing elective procedures that had previously been deferred during the COVID-19 pandemic. NUHS said it developed new initiatives supported by technology and service innovations, such as teleconsultations and its NUHS@Home recovery programme, which offers some patients the option of receiving acute hospital care and services at home instead of at the hospital. During the pandemic, Alexandra Hospital expanded the use of keyhole surgery, where procedures are performed through a small incision in the skin, for more complex operations.

• Berita Harian Online, 26 March 2023, Hospital pergiat pembedahan elektif tertunggak (The hospital specialises in overdue elective surgery)
  

• Tamil Murasu Online, 27 March 2023, ‘சென்ற ஆண்டு மீண்டும் தொடங்கின’ (Elective surgeries resumed last year)
  

• AsiaOne, 26 March 2023, Hospitals clearing surgery backlog, updates procedures to manage surge capacity
  

• Red Hot Singapore, 26 March 2023, Hospitals clearing elective surgery backlog, evolve procedures to maintain surge capacity
  

She’s an eye specialist, entrepreneur and family woman: How Prof Tina Wong does it all

​Women’s Weekly featured Professor Tina Wong and noted that she holds an adjunct faculty appointment at National University Health System. She was involved in the launch of BIXEPS, a device that helps with sports injuries and orthopaedic surgery rehabilitation. Currently, it is being used in Alexandra Hospital and other clinical sites.

Long wait: Help take load off hospital emergency departments

​An emergency medicine specialist doctor mentioned in a forum letter that there are urgent care centres in Alexandra Hospital and Kampung Admiralty, and one run by National University Hospital catering to children, which are staffed by emergency medicine specialists and nurses who “can handle many conditions and are equipped to do most investigations that patients would have normally gone to the A&E for”.

疗养院长周末迎来数百名访客 逐步恢复到疫情前水平 (Nursing home welcomes hundreds of visitors over long weekend, visitorship gradually returning to pre-pandemic levels)

​It was mentioned that for Chinese New Year’s Eve, a number of hospitals, including National University Hospital and Alexandra Hospital, provided patients who are staying in hospital with a festive dinner.

• Channel 8 News, 24 January 2023, 疗养院长周末迎来数百名访客 逐步恢复到疫情前水平 (Nursing home welcomes hundreds of visitors over long weekend, gradually returning to pre-pandemic levels)
  

Over 100,000 to get awards for helping S’pore fight COVID-19

The Prime Minister’s Office announced the COVID-19 National Awards, which recognise individuals for their outstanding efforts and contributions in Singapore’s fight against COVID-19. Mr Tan Chong Meng, Group CEO of PSA International, who is Deputy Chairman, NUHS Board, was named as one of three recipients of the top award, the Meritorious Service Medal (COVID-19). 

A side story listed award winners in the different categories, with several recipients from National University Health System, National University Hospital, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, Alexandra Hospital, National University Polyclinics, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.

Robot at Alexandra Hospital can take patients' vital signs

Can your ‘stylo’ sunglasses really protect the eyes from harmful UV rays? Here's how to choose the right ones

Dr Chen Jianping, Consultant, Department of Ophthalmology, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, shared how UV exposure can damage the surface tissues of one's eyes, and how individuals can select the right types of sunglasses that have UV protection. He elaborated that people can determine their sunglasses' level of UV protection by bringing them to optical shops, and highlighted the differences and effects of UV protection for polarised and mirrored lenses.

Dr Loon Seng Chee, Head & Senior Consultant, Department of Ophthalmology, Alexandra Hospital, agreed that Singaporeans are not wearing sunglasses often enough due to spending more time indoors. He shared that the high incidence of spectacle wearing locally could also be a factor as it makes it inconvenient for people to change into sunglasses unless they are purpose-built with the refractive error.

240 assisted living flats in Queensway to be launched next month

​About 240 community care flats in Queensway would be launched in November’s Build-To-Order exercise. In a joint statement, the Ministry of National Development, Ministry of Health and Housing & Development Board noted that the new community care flats would be situated within the Health District @ Queenstown, a programme that will support residents in leading healthier and more productive lives. The district is where Housing & Development Board, National University of Singapore, healthcare partners such as National University Health System and local grassroots organisations work together to pilot new strategies to create a built environment that promotes healthy living and active and healthy ageing. The statement also mentioned that the new project’s proximity to Alexandra Hospital means medical and healthcare services could be incorporated into care services for residents. Channel NewsAsia also noted that residents can enjoy convenient access to Alexandra Hospital, National University Hospital and Queenstown Polyclinic.

• TODAY, 27 October 2022, 240 community care HDB flats for seniors to be launched in Queenstown in November BTO sale
  
• CNA, 27 October 2022, What you need to know about the new assisted living HDB flats in Queenstown for seniors
  
• ZB Online, 28 October 2022, 女皇镇下月推出240个社区关爱组屋单位 (HDB launches 240 units of assisted living BTO flats in Queenstown in November)
  
• 8world, 27 October 2022, 女皇镇社区关爱组屋 约 240 个单位供申购 (About 240 units of Queenstown assisted living HDB flats are available for purchase)
  
• Berita Mediacorp, 27 October 2022, Apa yang perlu anda tahu tentang flat mesra warga emas di Queenstown (What you need to know about the new assisted living HDB flats in Queenstown for seniors)
  
• Newsfounded, 29 October 2022, About 240 assisted living HDB flats for seniors to be launched in Queenstown in the November BTO exercise
  

健康养老 (Healthy ageing)

​Prof Koh Woon-Puay from the Healthy Longevity Translational Research Programme in NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, and Dr Tan Li Feng of Geriatric Medicine at Alexandra Hospital shared advice on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle especially for seniors. Prof Koh said that improving lifestyles and adopting healthy habits during middle age is not too late to improve healthy ageing. The sooner one improves their lifestyle, the greater the effect. Dr Chen said people needed to maintain long-term and sustainable healthy habits, as exercise and dieting cannot be improved in the short term. Those with chronic diseases should discuss with their family doctors. Prof Koh suggested regular checks on blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

Is the mental health care system in Singapore overwhelmed?

​Long wait times, the big difference in cost between private and public services and a lack of trained professionals are some critical issues facing us as we tackle mental health issues. Channel NewsAsia Heart of the Matter Podcast speaks to experts including Dr Soo Shuenn Chiang, Head of Psychiatry at Alexandra Hospital and Senior Consultant at National University Hospital, about the gaps in Singapore’s mental health care system. 

Is snacking necessarily bad for you? How can you cut down if you’re trying to lose weight?

Various experts weigh in on snacking, including Prof Tai E Shyong, Centre Director of National University Health System (NUHS) Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management; Dr Serene Wong, Consultant with Alexandra Hospital’s Chronic Programme; Toh Hui Moon, Senior Clinical Psychologist at National University Polyclinics (NUP) and Lynette Goh, Principal Dietitian from NUP.

They provided insight and advice on why people feel the need to snack, the reasons for sweet or savoury cravings, whether snacking is necessary at all, how to minimise snacking, and tips to snack smarter.

New model lets patients get hospital care at home

​A new care model by the Ministry of Health Office for Healthcare Transformation, National University Health System (NUHS@Home), Singapore General Hospital (SGH@Home) and Yishun Health Medical Home would make use of mobile medical teams to help ease the hospital bed crunch. Called the Mobile Inpatient Care @ Home (MIC@Home), up to 2,000 patients could be treated at home in this manner over the next two years. The aim would be to increase patient comfort, reduce hospital acquired infections, improve manpower efficiency and increase bed capacity without the need to build more inpatient wards in hospitals.

Reports cited an National University Health System study which found that over three quarters of patients were willing to try home hospitalisation. Dr Stephanie Ko, Consultant, Division of Advanced Internal Medicine, National University Hospital, and Lead Clinician, NUHS@Home, said that since the COVID-19 pandemic, more people are a lot more receptive to things being brought to their doorstep, and this programme is coming in at a very opportune time, where medical care is brought to their homes.

Ms Teo Soo Leng, who was hospitalised under NUHS@Home, shared that she was impressed by how proactive and contactable the team was when she was on the programme. She added that her mother had peace of mind to be able to watch over her at home. 

Dr Sandra Tan, Associate Consultant, Division of Advanced Internal Medicine, National University Hospital, said that with the ageing population in Singapore and limited capacity in terms of resources, building more hospitals may not necessarily be the solution and the MIC@Home programme aims to tackle these healthcare resource barriers.

• The Straits Times Online, 29 September 2022, The Big Story, Patients can now be hospitalised at home, be cared for via teleconsultations
  

• Lianhe Zaobao, 30 September 2022, Page 6,  一些病患在家"住院"护理无差体验更佳 (Better experience for some patients with `inpatient` care at home)
  

• Lianhe Zaobao Online, 29 September 2022, 急诊病患可选居家住院 治疗相同但费用或更低 (Emergency patients can choose Mobile Inpatient Care @ Home for hospitalisation; same treatment but at a lower cost)
  

• Shin Min Daily, 29 September 2022, Pages 1 and 3, 试行'居家病房'计划 病患：医药费降低 新加坡国立大学医院高级 (`Hospital-at-Home` pilot: Patient says medical bill is cheaper)
  

• 8world, 29 September 2022, 居家急症医护服务再扩大 让更多病人在家养病 (MIC@Home further expanded to allow more patients recuperate at home)
  

• Berita Harian, 30 September 2022, Pages 1 and 2, Pesakit punya pilihan dijaga pasukan perubatan di rumah tanpa dirawat di hospital (Patients have option of receiving care from medical team at home without being treated at hospital)
  

• Berita Mediacorp, 29 September 2022, Program baru MIC@Home beri pesakit pilihan jalani jagaan bertaraf hospital di rumah (New program MIC@Home give patients the option of hospital-grade care at home)
  

• Tamil Murasu, 30 September 2022, Pages 1 and 2, ில் $நாயாளிகள் வீட்டில் நங்கி சிரிச்சை பெறலாம் (Some patients can now be hospitalised at home)
  

• Channel NewsAsia, 29 September 2022, Singapore Tonight, 10pm
  

• Hospital Management Asia, 29 September 2022, HMA conference to look at future of Hospital at Home model in Asia
  

• eGlobalTravelMedia, 30 September 2022, HMA conference to look at future of Hospital at Home model in Asia
  

• Healthcare IT News, 5 October 2022, Singapore's Ministry of Health expands virtual ward pilots
  

New clinic looks at how to slow ageing, prolong disease-free years

A new longevity clinic, where the doctor will diagnose a healthy person's biological age and then provide a customised plan to slow ageing, is being set up at Alexandra Hospital (AH) and is slated to open by January next year. Professor Andrea Maier, the co-director of the National University Health System (NUHS) Centre for Healthy Longevity (CHL), said this at CHL's opening on Wednesday.

To measure biological age, a patient will undergo blood tests as well as a series of other tests to check his heart function, lung function, joints and more. The doctors will then prescribe a personalised plan which can include specific exercise routines and dietary modifications, said Prof Maier.

Professor Brian Kennedy, CHL director, said the centre, located in AH and a laboratory at NUS Medicine, integrates pre-clinical and clinical research to test ways of slowing ageing in a Southeast Asian population. The centre has screening tools that analyse facial ageing and measure arterial stiffness, body composition and functional ability.

The centre's mission is to enhance health span by three to five years in Singapore's population by slowing biological ageing.

• The Straits Times Online, 7 September 2022, New longevity centre looks at how to reverse ageing and prolong disease-free years
  

• The Straits Times Video, Youtube, 7 September 2022, New longevity centre looks at how to reverse ageing and prolong disease-free years 
  

• Lianhe Zaobao, 7 September 2022, 成立健康长寿中心 国大研究最佳方案助国人延长健康寿命 (NUHS sets up Centre for Healthy Longevity to study best solutions in helping to increase healthy lifespan of Singapore population)
  

• Shin Min Daily News, 8 September 2022, Page 4, 国大设健康长寿中心 目标为国人延长5年健康寿命 (NUHS opens Centre for Healthy Longevity with target to increase healthy lifespan of Singaporeans by 5 years)
  

• Berita Harian, 8 September 2022, Institut penyelidikan penuaan dibuka NUHS (NUHS opens ageing research institute)
  

• AsiaOne, 7 September 2022, Prolonging healthspan by delaying ageing – NUHS opens Singapore’s first Centre for Healthy Longevity to increase healthy lifespan of Singapore population by five more disease-free years
  

• CNA Singapore Tonight, 7 September 2022, Centre for Healthy Longevity aims to enhance lifespan of Singapore population by five more years
  

• CNA Singapore Tonight, 7 September 2022, Professors Brian Kennedy and Andrea Maier on ageing and healthy longevity
  

• Channel 8 News, 健康长寿中心展开研究 探讨延长寿命方案 (New Centre for Healthy Longevity to study best solutions to increase longevity)
  

• Channel 8 Hello Singapore, 8 September 2022,【十分访谈】：长寿与健康 (In-depth Interview: Longevity and health)
  

• 8World, 7 September 2022, 健康长寿中心展开研究 探讨延长寿命方案 (New Centre for Healthy Longevity to study best solutions to increase longevity)
  

• Berita Mediacorp, 7 September 2022, Lebih 300 individu sertai ujian NUHS bagi kaji huraian capai usia panjang (More than 300 individuals participated in NUHS research on longevity)
  

• Tamil Murasu, 8 September 2022, Page 2, New longevity centre looks at how to reverse ageing and prolong disease-free years 
  

三高也影响眼睛的健康 (Diabetic retinopathy)

​Dr Loon Seng Chee, Head of Ophthalmology, Alexandra Hospital, and Head of Glaucoma, Department of Ophthalmology, National University Hospital, went on a talk show with host Anna Lim on diabetic retinopathy.

Living with knee pain in your 40s? What can you do now to prevent knee replacement surgery in the future?

Orthopaedic specialists said that the typical age of patients who require knee replacements was over the age of 60. However, there was a minority of those who suffer knee pains in their 40s. 

Adjunct Assistant Professor Wang Lushun, Head and Senior Consultant of Ng Teng Fong General Hospital's Division of Hip and Knee Surgery, said that their patients in their 40s make up less than 5 per cent of the knee replacement patients. 

However, knee pain in more common than you think. In fact, there are nearly as many patients in their 40s with knee pain as those over 60 years old – or at least in the outpatient clinic at Alexandra Hospital, according to Dr Melvin Tan, an Associate Consultant with Orthopaedic Surgery.

Fortunately, pain for the average 40-something is still “manageable with non-surgical treatment”, said Dr Chua Wei Liang, Head and Consultant with National University Hospital’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Division of Adult Reconstruction and Joint Replacement Surgery.

Generally, ageing, weight gain and being female predispose patients to require knee replacement surgeries. Secondary factors include injuries, inflammatory arthritis and infection.