SPEECH BY DR KOH POH KOON, SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE, MOH & MOM, AT OPENING OF THE NUH ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY & HAND & RECONSTRUCTIVE MICROSURGERY CENTRES

Professor Yeoh Khay Guan, Chief Executive, National University Health System

Professor Aymeric Lim, Chief Executive Officer, National University Hospital

My senior professors from when I was a student, colleagues and friends

 Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen

1.      A very good morning. Thank you for having me at this opening of the Orthopaedic Surgery Centre and Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery Centre at the National University Hospital (NUH).

2.     The last time I was here in the orthopaedic department was when I was a student. I never had a chance to come back for my postings. But I must say, I learned a lot from my various professors when I was here as a student.

3.      But nonetheless, since it has been many years since I have been here as a student, I thought it would be interesting for me to come and take a look and see what has evolved since the many decades that have passed. And indeed, from the video, it is a very impressive suite of services that the new centres are offering.

NUH Redevelopment

4.      For the past 40 years, NUH has played an important role in Singapore’s public healthcare system, providing clinical care while advancing research, innovation, and education. Today’s opening of the Orthopaedic Surgery and Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery Centres is part of NUH’s vision for the future: one that leverages smart technology, is more sustainable, and fundamentally centred on the patients’ needs.

5.     By 2038, NUH will expand its capacity to 1,500 beds over several phases – an essential move to meet the demands of an ageing population, increasing chronic disease burden, and rising healthcare expectations. The relocation of these centres from the Main Building is also the beginning of NUH’s Kent Ridge Campus Redevelopment Plan, which will be carried out over the coming years as NUH progressively replaces older structures, improve land and space use efficiency and increase hospital capacity.

6.     These brick and mortar works are driven by strategy and intent. And it is not often that we get to reorganise services within the hospital. Oftentimes, as our capability and capacity increase, we build in new services, but these then end up as hodgepodge and in different parts of the hospital. So, relocating critical centres like the Orthopaedic Surgery and Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery to Levels 18 and 19 of the Medical Centre is not just about moving departments together, not just about moving parts of furniture into one place – but it is really rethinking how care can be delivered in a more efficient and more effective way.

Integrated, Patient-Centred Design     

7.       It is a good chance, while NUH is redeveloping, to really think about how we can bring things together to be more relevant for the future needs of our healthcare system. I am heartened to know that the new centres are designed with integration, efficiency, and patient experience in mind. Diagnostic imaging, specialist consultations, treatment and procedures, physical therapy and pharmaceutical care were thoughtfully planned to be sited in close proximity. This reduces walking distances by nearly half. For patients, especially those with mobility issues, this means less waiting, less moving around, fewer transfers between locations, and importantly, a much more coordinated care experience.     

Medicine Advancements, Excellence and Collaboration

8.       The Orthopaedic Surgery Centre at Level 18 and Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery Centre at Level 19 will bring together specialist outpatient clinics and several essential services together in one place, to support patients at every step through a holistic and integrated approach.

9.       Now, as our population ages, and as sports and active lifestyles become more common, the demand for orthopaedic care will certainly continue to grow. We will thus need to rethink healthcare delivery and retain broad-based competencies in order to better consolidate care for our patients as part of medical workforce transformation.  Besides transforming touchpoints, patients will also benefit from alternative approaches to joint replacement surgery at the Joint Preservation Centre, where preserving natural joints to enhance function is the primary focus – and I think patients will want something like this to be available, it is an option that can be done. And the NUH Sports Centre, which complements this approach through improving physical activity and overall fitness, and these are both co-located within the Orthopaedic Surgery Centre.

10.    The Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery Centre offers integrated, specialised care for adults and children with complex nerve conditions, congenital hand deformities, and reconstruction after trauma. This Centre brings together advanced surgical techniques and multidisciplinary collaboration through the Nerve and Motion Centre for nerve-related conditions, Complex Reconstruction Clinic, and Hand Prosthetic Laboratory. All these specialised services coming together in one place focus on restoring functions and improving the quality of life for patients.

Sustainability and Education

11.     In line with MOH’s commitment to delivering care sustainably, these new centres also incorporate digital solutions like the Integrated Data Platform (IDP) which integrates data from various building systems and devices. Now, you all know that we are on the path to decarbonisation, but decarbonising healthcare is extremely challenging because there is always a trade-off that we have to bear. Certainly, the IDP as a platform is equipped with data analytics and AI solutions which will enable real time monitoring, predictive maintenance and autonomous control. In other words, a smart building. This helps NUH improve the building's operational efficiency, space and resource utilisation, and create a smarter and greener infrastructure.         

12.    With better data knowledge, we will have better insights on where we can put most of our efforts to decarbonise and ensure sustainability. It is not just about cutting down things, but knowing where to cut it down. I think that is the key to driving sustainability and weighing the trade-offs.

13.    What is equally important is NUH’s commitment to education. The live observation rooms and teaching spaces within the centres give our medical, nursing and Allied Health students and trainees a conducive environment to optimise their learning.

A Shared Vision for the Future

14.     This opening reflects NUH’s commitment to shaping healthcare around the people it serves – making it more accessible, and sustainable. I would like to commend the entire team at NUH – from the planners and architects to the clinicians and support staff – for your vision, dedication, commitment, and passion for delivering better care every day.

15.    It is always a challenge to retrofit a place to meet new needs. It is like trying to change tyres while the car is moving, because you cannot stop your services, you have to try to run two places at the same time. But I hope this transition will mean there is also a better working environment for all the staff delivering care and services to the patients.

16.    As we look forward to the next phases of redevelopment, let us continue to work together – both at the Ministry side, and the institutions, professionals, and communities – to build a healthcare system that is not only prepared for tomorrow but is already able to make a meaningful difference today to our patients.

17.    With that, let me congratulate you on this opening, and thank you for having me here today. Thank you.