As it focuses on frail, senior patients
With growing numbers of seniors visiting its busy emergency department (ED), Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) said a key priority is to look out for frail, senior patients, some of whom are at risk of readmission after they have been discharged. These patients, aged 65 and above, are flagged to the hospital’s geriatric team so that they can receive help to better manage their symptoms.
This helps them lead better lives and stay out of hospital as much as possible. Frailty is a common geriatric syndrome characterised by diminished strength, endurance and physiologic reserves. The hospital’s chief executive, Dr Tang Kong Choong, told The Straits Times ahead of celebrations to mark its 180th anniversary that TTSH has made a concerted effort to ensure that staff know to direct attention and care to the frail and elderly as Singapore rapidly ages. TTSH ramped up efforts to detect frail, senior patients in its ED in 2022, following disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic in previous years.
At the hospital’s 180th anniversary bash on July 19 at Capitol Theatre, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam said that TTSH has always been a people’s hospital. “It was started by the community and has remained faithful to its founding ethos of being close to the community and caring for the community,” said President Tharman. TTSH was founded as the Chinese Pauper Hospital in 1844 by philanthropist Tan Tock Seng, who had a deep desire to help the sick and poor. Today, it is one of the largest tertiary hospitals in Singapore, with 1,400 acute care beds. It is also home to Singapore’s busiest ED.
Celebrating 180 Years of Care
180 years ago, out of one man’s compassion and heart for the poor and the sick, our founding father Mr Tan Tock Seng began the first hospital for the poor.
Today, his legacy continues with us – transforming the way we care for our patients, our residents, and for one another. As we celebrate Founder’s Day today, let's take a moment to see how far we have come together, as one TTSH.
Health for Generations
Together with its centres of excellence – National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID), Institute for Geriatrics & Active Ageing (IGA), NHG Eye Institute (NHGEI), Trauma Centre and the TTSH Rehabilitation Centre – this leading tertiary institution is a pioneer in care, innovation and workforce transformation. The flagship hospital of the National Healthcare Group, TTSH plays a pivotal role in creating new models of care and adding years of healthy life to the people of Singapore.
For 180 years, we have cared for many generations of families in Singapore. As we look forward, we want to pioneer new care to serve you and your family, for better health and a better future. Hear from our people, what inspires them to be the architects of a resilient future, dedicated to anchoring care in the present and in the future, giving health for all, and Health for Generations.
Tan Tock Seng Hospital 陳篤生醫院
The new 15-story Tan Tock Seng Hospital was marked as a historic institution on 25 July 2001
Tan Tock Seng Hospital opened on 25 July 1844 by philanthropist Tan Tock Seng is a tertiary referral hospital in Singapore, located in Novena. The hospital has 45 clinical and allied health departments, 16 specialist centres and is powered by more than 8,000 healthcare staff.
Tan Tock Seng Hospital is Singapore's second-largest acute care general hospital with over 1,500 beds (second only to Singapore General Hospital). TTSH has the busiest trauma centre in the country; 100 trauma cases are seen every day and 100 trauma surgeries are performed daily. TTSH is the flagship hospital of the National Healthcare Group and the principal teaching hospital for the NTU Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine. Its campus includes the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) and two national specialty centres, namely the National Skin Centre (NSC) and the National Neuroscience Institute (NNI).
It was later decided that the low-lying ground on which the hospital stood was unsuitable for patients, and, in 1903, the land on Moulmein Road, where the present hospital stands, was bought with donation of $50,000 by Loke Yew. The new hospital was completed in 1909 by the Public Works Department. As a result of a restructuring exercise in the local health-care scene, the hospital became a member of the National Healthcare Group in 2000.
