Yishun Community Hospital holds topping-out ceremony

SINGAPORE — The topping out ceremony of the new Yishun Community Hospital (YCH) was held today (April 10), officiated by Health Minister Gan Kim Yong.

Slated to open in December, this 428-bed community hospital will provide intermediate care for patients who do not require the intensive care services of an acute hospital.

When open, the 10-storey hospital will serve rehabilitation, sub-acute, dementia and palliative care patients. Located next to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH), and connected by a sky bridge, the proximity will enable fast and seamless transfer of patients from one setting to another. Patients who are discharged from YCH can continue their care through community nurse home visits and outpatient clinics.

Dr Pauline Tan, chief executive officer of YCH, said: “The close proximity between the KTPH and YCH will streamline work processes to ensure minimal inconvenience to patients and caregivers. The close synergy will reduce waiting time for beds, unnecessary length of stay and a more efficient access to community resources and social assistance through YCH’s active engagement efforts. YCH will also work closely with our KTPH team to identify patients who may benefit from receiving care in a community hospital setting as early as during the admission and start family engagements at the onset.”

To get YCH’s structure up in the deadline of 22 months, in time for its topping out, main contractor Kimly-Shimizu JV employed a building method where construction started from level one upward and downward simultaneously. This differs from the conventional way of construction, where work will start sequentially by excavating from the lowest floor, usually the basement, and then moving to the upper levels.

The innovative method helped the team slash four months off its construction schedule, allowing them to meet the deadline. Another innovative construction method by Kimly-Shimizu JV involves using the Precast Column Structural Steel (PCSS) system which combines the use of reinforced concrete columns and structural steel beams. This method is typically used in the private sector. It helped the construction team to build one level in nine days instead of the average 14 days, saving a total of five days for every level constructed. YCH is the first public hospital that is built using the PCSS system.

Mr Gan Kim Yong said: “The upcoming YCH, which is located next to KTPH, will provide continuing care and support patients through the recovery process. Over the next few years, residents in the north can look forward to new healthcare facilities and service developments, such as Admiralty Medical Centre, Sembawang Primary Care Centre and Woodlands Integrated Healthcare Campus in the future. The Yishun polyclinic will also be redeveloped. Taken as a whole, these planned projects will provide a holistic suite of healthcare services – spanning acute, specialist care, primary care and long-term care – to make sure that residents living in the northern part of Singapore will be well supported to live healthily and happily.”