23 MAY 2018
MEDIA RELEASE
NEW POLYCLINIC TO SERVE RESIDENTS IN PUNGGOL
Comprehensive healthcare services with special focus on women's and children's services to cater to the community's young population
Located next to Oasis LRT station with direct access via sheltered link bridge
Singapore, 23 May 2018 – SingHealth Polyclinics (SHP) - Punggol was officially opened today by Mr Ng Chee Meng, Member of Parliament for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office.
Spanning four levels in Oasis Terraces – a new generation neighbourhood centre comprising a community plaza, childcare centres, and retail and dining facilities – the polyclinic is easily accessible via a sheltered link bridge that brings patients directly from the Oasis LRT station to the polyclinic's registration area.
Dr David Ng, Clinic Director of SHP-Punggol, said, "SHP-Punggol aims to provide holistic and seamless primary care services for the community in the northeast to keep well, get well and age well. We are thankful to the residents, grassroots leaders and general practitioners in the area for their feedback and suggestions which have been invaluable in helping us shape the Polyclinic's design and services to meet the population's needs."
The new Polyclinic offers a comprehensive suite of primary care services with a special focus on women's and children's health services to cater to the healthcare needs of the region, which has the highest proportion of children aged five and below in Singapore. A growing community, the number of residents is set to rise as more families make Punggol their home.
"While our mission is to provide accessible and affordable care to residents of all ages, we were intentional in dedicating space for women's and children's health services to cater to the needs of the young community here," said Dr Ng.
Diabetes Prevention and Care
As part of ongoing national efforts under the War on Diabetes to prevent and manage diabetes, the Polyclinic is working with KK Women's and Children's Hospital on a pilot programme to provide close follow-up care and management for new mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), as they have increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. The programme will be offered at the Polyclinic from July 2018.
To provide more holistic care for patients with diabetes, the Polyclinic assigns each patient to a dedicated care team made up of doctors, care managers who are trained nurses, allied health professionals and care coordinators.
The arrangement allows the same care team to monitor and manage the individual's condition based on their personalised care plan. These patients who require follow-up appointments for medical consultation, blood tests, diabetic retinal photography and diabetic foot screening will also benefit from the smart appointment system at the self-service kiosks which recommends appointment slots based on their care plan.
Greater Convenience at the Pharmacy
Other systems that leverage IT to enhance the patient experience include the Outpatient Pharmacy Automation System and 24-hour PILBOX service, which provide patients with greater convenience when collecting their medication.
The Outpatient Pharmacy Automation System, implemented in partnership with IHiS (Integrated Health Information Systems), uses robot technology to improve medication safety and workflow efficiency in the pharmacy. Robotic machines pick and package medications according to the patient's prescription. This automation has improved pharmacy efficiency and reduces the need for manual effort, allowing pharmacy staff to focus on reviewing medication lists and counselling patients with more complex medical conditions.
Bringing Care Closer to Home
In addition to medical care, SHP-Punggol serves as a one-stop facility, offering dental, diagnostic radiology, physiotherapy, podiatry and laboratory services under one roof. Starting on 30 July 2018, the Community Eye Clinic (CEC), in collaboration with Singapore National Eye Centre, will offer eye care services for conditions such as early cataract, stable glaucoma, early diabetic retinopathy and maculopathy. This will allow more patients to benefit from care closer to home.
Beyond patient care, SHP-Punggol Polyclinic houses the SHP Centre of Research Excellence (CORE), a dedicated facility which will focus on research into chronic disease management and innovations that directly impact primary care delivery. The Polyclinic will also be a training ground for medical undergraduate and postgraduate training in Family Medicine.
SHP-Punggol is the latest addition to SHP's network of eight polyclinics, which include Bedok, Bukit Merah, Marine Parade, Outram, Pasir Ris, Sengkang and Tampines.
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For media enquiries and interviews, please contact:
SingHealth Group Communications
Ms Lo Sok Wan
Direct line: 6377 8048
Mobile: 9689 8791
E: lo.sok.wan@singhealth.com.sg
Ms Syaheeda Sapari
Direct line: 6377 8055
Mobile: 9826 5394
E:syaheeda.aryanie.sapari@singhealth.com.sg
About SingHealth Polyclinics
SingHealth Polyclinics comprises a network of polyclinics that provide primary healthcare services and play an integral role in empowering patients and their families to take charge of their health and wellness. As a leader in Family Medicine, SHP strives to provide seamless, person-centred care and promote preventive healthcare.
SingHealth Polyclinics is a member of Singapore Health Services (SingHealth) – an Academic Medical Centre offering over 40 clinical specialties through a network of acute hospitals, national specialty centres, community hospitals and polyclinics. http://polyclinic.singhealth.com.sg
