Speech by Health Minister Gan Kim Yong at the official launch of Health City Novena, 30 Aug 2013

Speech by Health Minister Gan Kim Yong at the official launch of Health City Novena, 30 Aug 2013

Your Excellency, Ambassador Marut Jitpatima

Chairmen and board members of the National Healthcare Group, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Lee Kong Chian Medicine Governing Board, Ren Ci Hospital and Dover Park Hospice

Community Leaders

Healthcare partners

Distinguished guests

Ladies and gentlemen

Good morning.

I am pleased to join you today to launch the master plan for Health City Novena – an integrated healthcare hub jointly developed by the Ministry of Health (MOH), the National Healthcare Group and Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Introduction on healthcare in Novena

2          Novena has a long history in the healthcare sector, beginning more than a century ago when Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) first moved to this area in 1909^[1]. This was followed over the years by HCA Hospice Care, Dover Park Hospice, Ren Ci’s Nursing Homes and Community Hospital, National Skin Centre and National Neuroscience Institute (NNI).  These institutions work closely together to facilitate smooth transitions of patients between the institutions.

3          As our population grows and ages, healthcare needs are becoming more complex. In time to come, there will be more frail patients requiring more specialist care for more conditions, and for a longer period of time.  Central Singapore is ageing faster than the rest of the island – the population of seniors age 65 and above in the central region is around 15%^[2], compared to the national average of 10%.

The Vision of Health City Novena

4          Health City Novena will anchor the Regional Health System (RHS) for the central region, and is a key component under MOH’s capacity building strategy to develop medical excellence and provide more accessible and quality care to Singaporeans.  It will not only provide integrated healthcare services, but also gardens and parks for the general public to enjoy.  It also aims to enhance the collaboration among healthcare institutions further, by building infrastructure that will actively facilitate integration of care and a patient-centric approach in care delivery.

5          Four C’s aptly describe the Health City Novena master plan that will bring to life this vision of an integrated, patient-centric, healthcare development - Care, Continuous Learning and Innovation, Community, and Connectivity.  Let me elaborate on each of the ‘C’s.

First, a greater focus on delivering Care

6          Health City Novena will see a larger and stronger healthcare presence.  There will be five new healthcare facilities - a National Centre for Infectious Disease, a new building for intermediate care just next to Ren Ci hospital, a building expansion for National Skin Centre at Mandalay Road, a new ambulatory expansion for TTSH and a future national centre.  Each facility will be purpose-built to deliver high quality care for our patients.

7          When fully developed, healthcare related space in Novena will increase by 150%.  Some 600,000 square metres of space will be used for healing, learning and research.  More resources will be channelled to intermediate care and this includes rehabilitation, sub-acute care and palliative care.  Total bed capacity for Health City is expected to increase by 12% for acute care, and 60% for intermediate step-down care.  This would mean that the number of step-down beds in Health City will increase from four, for every 10 acute beds, to six.  This facilitates patients’ transition back to the community.

8          The integration of care will also be strengthened.  Hubs will be created within Health City to foster better integration of care between healthcare providers.  For example, the Community Care Hub will consist of the existing Ren Ci Hospital and a future intermediate care facility; both of which will be linked to TTSH for seamless patient transfers.

Second, fostering Continuous Learning and Innovation

9          The Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine today occupies a heritage building at 11 Mandalay Road, which is also the site of the first medical hostel in Singapore.  The plan is to add three new buildings to form Health City Novena’s Learning Hub. These are the Lee Kong Chian’s new Clinical Sciences Block, TTSH’s medical education and training building and a future health sciences school.

10        Even as Health City Novena aims to ready healthcare to serve the growing needs of our greying population, it is also about nurturing and developing the younger professional healthcare workforce, so that Singaporeans can continue to enjoy quality healthcare services.  The Learning Hub will nurture generations of healthcare professionals who will contribute across the continuum of care.  It will also integrate clinical training between the different healthcare professional groups so that they can become more effective care teams.  With this integration and collaboration, we hope to foster greater innovation and develop new and more effective models of care delivery to improve the health of Singaporeans.  In addition, to empower care in the community, there will be engagement and training of community partners, patients and caregivers to raise their overall capability.

Third, integrating seamlessly with Community

11        By 2030, the landscape of Novena will be transformed with Health City’s new healthcare facilities, boulevards, gateways and plazas.  These will be seamlessly integrated with the surrounding lifestyle components like shopping malls, and transport hubs.  Health City Novena has been conceptualised with the community in mind, with health trails, eco trails and heritage trails for community use.  We will also have our own Central Park in Singapore with an open air theatre, elevated walkways and a Community Hub.

And finally, greater Connectivity

12        TTSH sees about 15,000 people going through its premises every day.  When Health City is completed around 2030, this will be doubled to more than 30,000 people.

13        Every building in Health City Novena will be linked via a highly connected network of public walkways, streets, bridges, roads and interconnected basement car parks.  Patients can be assured of privacy and comfort as they are moved from facility to facility, while residents would not need to cross into patient care areas to access facilities and amenities in Health City Novena.  Moving from one part of the Health City to another will be easy, safe and pleasant.

Conclusion

14        In closing, I would like to congratulate NHG, TTSH and all healthcare partners on the launch of this master plan.  They have worked very hard on these plans and done some advance consultation with stakeholders.  It is now time to share these plans with a larger audience, and get views and suggestions on what we can do to improve the plans.  Health City Novena will be an important feature of the healthcare landscape, to continue providing Singaporeans with accessible and quality healthcare.

15        I wish all of you an enjoyable morning.

16        Thank you.

^[1] Tan Tock Seng Hospital was originally set up by Mr Tan Tock Seng in 1844 as the Chinese Paupers’ Hospital.  The hospital was renamed after Mr Tan’s death in 1850.

^[2] Central Community Development Council, March 2013