SPEECH BY MDM RAHAYU MAHZAM, MINISTER OF STATE, MDDI, AND MOH, AT THE NHG HEALTH NURSES’ DAY

Mr Tan Tee How, Chairman, NHG Health,

 Professor Joe Sim, Group Chief Executive Officer, NHG Health

 Colleagues, distinguished guests

 And most importantly, our dedicated nurses

 1.               Good morning. It’s a pleasure to be here today as we honour the heartbeat of our healthcare system - our nurses.

 Tapestry of Care

 2.               The event’s theme of "25 Years of NHG Nursing: One Tapestry of Care" captures the rich history and collective achievements of NHG Nursing over the past quarter-century. It symbolises the interconnectedness of nurses within NHG, showcasing how your diverse skills, experiences, and dedication weave together to create a professional, holistic, and compassionate care environment. This tapestry of care highlights the contributions of each nurse while also reflecting the collaborative spirit that enhances patient care and strengthens the nursing profession.

 3.               At the heart of this tapestry is NHG’s organisational values of One NHG, Build Trust, Take Action, and Forge Ahead. These principles guide nurses in their daily practice, fostering a unified approach to care that builds trust with patients and colleagues.

 4.               Together, these elements create a vibrant tapestry of care that honours the ongoing commitment to excellence in nursing, celebrating both the achievements and aspirations of NHG Nursing.

 Celebrating Exemplary Nurses: NHG Nurse of the Year Award 2025

 5.               This year marks the launch of the NHG Nurse of the Year Award 2025, which recognises nine outstanding nurses across our institutions who have made significant contributions to the nursing profession. These awardees exemplify what it means to be Trusted and Chosen; delivering expert advice, making timely decisions, and providing deeply compassionate care.

 6.               They are role models who bring NHG’s values to life — uniting teams, earning patients’ trust, stepping up to solve complex challenges, and driving bold change to improve care. Their work also reflects NHG Nursing’s key priorities: building strong patient relationships, expanding nursing roles, embracing digital innovation, and fostering supportive, growth-focused environments.

 7.               More broadly, they advance NHG Health’s goal of adding 15 million years of healthy life by 2030 by delivering care that is not only evidence-based and future-ready, but deeply rooted in compassion and people-centred values. They show us that nursing leadership is defined not by position, but by purpose, and not by status, but by service.

 Project D:EDICATE: Strengthening Care Through Cross-Cluster Collaboration

 8.               As we celebrate these individuals, we must also recognise the importance of system-level collaboration. One such example is Project D:EDICATE, a cross-hospital initiative that aims to reduce the incidence of delirium by 30 per cent among at-risk inpatients. Delirium is a serious yet preventable condition that disproportionately affects older adults, delaying recovery and increasing the risk of complications and mortality. Project D:EDICATE will focus on the reduction of delirium incidents through systematic delirium bundles including delirium prevention, detection, and multidisciplinary team management.

 9.               By uniting five NHG institutions, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Yishun Community Hospital, Woodlands Health, and the Institute of Mental Health, Project D:EDICATE reflects NHG’s commitment to standardising evidence-based care, leveraging shared expertise, and delivering better outcomes.

10.           This initiative is expected to shorten hospital stays by one to two days, reduce cognitive decline, and significantly improve the patient and caregiver experience. It is a powerful example of how data, innovation, and teamwork can transform care delivery across the system.

Kairos Programme: Empowering the Next Generation of Nurses

 11.           Another initiative that speaks to NHG’s forward-thinking approach is the Kairos Programme. Launched at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and Yishun Community Hospital, it supports first-year nurses as they transit from school into the workforce, one of the most vulnerable periods in their careers. Hence, this programme was named Kairos, which in Greek refers to the right or opportune moment for action.

 12.           While traditional mentorship from preceptors and supervisors remains vital, Kairos adds a new dimension: by providing structured peer support. Trained peer supporters journey alongside new nurses, offering emotional check-ins, guidance, and a listening ear, ensuring no nurse feels alone on their journey.

 13.           The results have been encouraging. In just six months, emotional well-being scores among new nurses rose from 48 to 71 per cent, with improved retention and stronger team cohesion. More than 70 peer supporters have been trained, and many reported a deepened sense of purpose and connection through the experience.

 14.           In light of this success, I’m pleased to hear that NHG will be expanding the Kairos Programme to more institutions from the first quarter of 2026, with the goal of providing new nurses across NHG a supportive, empowering start. Kairos reminds us that resilience is not built in isolation - it is nurtured in community, through kindness, guidance, and solidarity.

 Spotlight: Presidential Award Recipient: Ms Yap Hui Xian Yvonne

 15.           At the heart of many of these transformative care efforts is a leader who exemplifies both vision and action. One such leader is Ms Yap Hui Xian Yvonne, Deputy Director of Nursing at KTPH - and one of this year’s proud recipients of the President’s Award for Nurses, Singapore’s highest accolade for nursing excellence. Please give her a round of applause.

 16.           A visionary in workforce innovation and person-centred care, Yvonne has shaped nursing practice across NHG Health with her bold, thoughtful, and deeply human leadership. She pioneered roster reengineering at KTPH, removing rigid legacy systems and introducing practices that improved nurses’ work-life harmony - a change now influencing other institutions.

 17.           During the COVID-19 pandemic, Yvonne led the development of the Care Ambassador and Patient Care Officer roles in collaboration with Singapore Airlines and the Public Service Division - enhancing clinical coverage, alleviating workload on nurses and contributing to a more sustainable and efficient manpower solution.

18.           She has also championed the emotional and ethical foundations of nursing, introducing initiatives like the Work-sense Committee and Nursing Ethics Community of Practice to build trust, cohesion, and confidence among teams.

 19.           Through mentorship, systemic change, and putting people at the heart of leadership, Yvonne had shown that the greatest innovation in healthcare is people. Today, we celebrate leaders like Yvonne and all nurses. Your every action, every effort towards building a better healthcare workforce has helped create a beautiful healthcare ecosystem that benefits people here.

Closing

20.           To all our nurses here today - thank you for your resilience, your empathy, and your unwavering commitment to care.

21.           Thank you for holding the line during crises, and for lifting lives in quiet, everyday ways that often go unseen but never go unfelt.

22.           As we look ahead, may this tapestry of care grow stronger, more vibrant, and ever more united, with each of you at its finest threads.

 23.           Congratulations to all our award recipients, and Happy Nurses’ Day.